Toby trailer: Is Raj B Shetty playing a speech-impaired character?

In the evening of August 4, Kannada actor-filmmaker Raj B Shetty presented the trailer of his much-awaited next, Toby. Raj had earlier said that the film is a character-driven mass film and that’s pretty much what the trailer also shows. What it also tells us is that the narrative takes place over a number of years, during which time, Toby goes from being a simple family man to a destructive force seeking revenge. Raj’s younger look with a head full of hair, Toby’s relationships with his friend played by Gopalkrishna Deshpande, wife by Samyukta Hornad and the character played by Chaithra J Achar, presumably, his daughter, have all stood out, as also his final appearance as the sacrificial sheep that’s returned as Maari.

But there’s something else that the trailer has said without saying anything. What some netizens have pointed out is the absolute lack of dialogues for Raj as Toby. You see him smile, nod his head and even cry in utter dismay, but besides that, there’s not a word from him, even as the others in the film can be heard discussing him. Also, the scene in which he’s arrested and appears to be communicating in sign language to Chaithra has given this theory credence. The verdict that this has led netizens to is that Raj is playing a speech-impaired character in the film.

Read also: Toby trailer: Raj B Shetty goes from simpleton to avenger in emotional revenge drama

To be released in Kannada on August 25 by KVN Production, Toby has been directed by Basil AL Chalakkal. The film is based on a story by TK Dayanand, which Raj re-wrote, to give it a more filmi and commercial flavour. Described by Raj as a revenge drama, the film he has said is his response to certain recent unpleasant experiences. Toby has music by Midhun Mukundan, who has scored for all of Raj’s films, while Praveen Shriyan fills in as cinematographer and Prateek Shetty as editor.