Half-star rating for 'Toxic' draws attention
Gautam Ghattamaneni, the 20-year-old son of Telugu actor Mahesh Babu, has become the subject of online discussion after his rating of Yash's film 'Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups' surfaced on the film-themed platform Letterboxd. According to screenshots circulating on social media, Gautam gave the Geetu Mohandas-directed film just 0.5 stars, as reported by several outlets including Deccan Chronicle, Free Press Journal, and The Times of India.
The rating quickly caught attention, with fans noting the stark contrast to the film's box office performance. 'Toxic,' which features Yash, Kiara Advani, Nayanthara, Huma Qureshi, and Tara Sutaria, has received mixed to negative responses from viewers and critics, despite strong opening numbers. As per The Indian Express, the film had crossed the Rs 313 crore mark worldwide by its seventh day, while its India net stood at Rs 229.95 crore.
Ratings of his father's films
Gautam's Letterboxd profile, which reportedly lists ratings for more than 400 films across languages and genres, has also drawn attention for its assessments of his father's work. While he awarded five stars each to 'Pokiri' and '1: Nenokkadine,' other Mahesh Babu films received lower scores. 'Brahmotsavam' got just one star, and 'Nijam' and 'Vamsi' each received two stars, as per multiple sources including The Indian Express and Times Now. Deccan Chronicle also reported screenshots of a one-star rating for 'Aagadu.'
These ratings prompted some fans to note that Gautam appears to judge films independently rather than favoring his father's projects. India Today reported that a section of fans backed his choices, arguing that Mahesh Babu has not delivered his peak work in recent years, while others found the low ratings too harsh.
The profile's bio reads, "Opinions are my own. It's really not that deep yo," as reported by Free Press Journal.
Other film ratings
Beyond his father's films, Gautam's profile shows a wide-ranging taste. He gave five stars to classics like 'Sholay,' as well as to 'Project Hail Mary,' 'Knives Out,' and 'Jersey,' according to The Indian Express and India Today. 'Baahubali 2' also received five stars, while 'Pelli Choopulu' and 'Sita Ramam' earned 4.5 stars, as per The Indian Express.
His ratings also show variation: 'Eega' got four stars, 'Dhurandhar' received four stars, and 'Dhurandhar: The Revenge' was given three stars, as reported by India Today. 'Liger' also received half a star, suggesting the 'Toxic' rating is not an isolated instance. The Times of India reported that ratings for 'Toxic,' 'Irumudi,' and 'Viswanath and Sons' appear to have been removed from his profile.
Reactions and debate
Social media users have responded to Gautam's ratings with a mix of praise and curiosity. A user commenting on India Today's post wrote, "Bro is honest," while another called it a "Perfect review." One user urged respect for his opinion, writing, "Let's respect his choice," as reported by Free Press Journal. The South Cinemaa Twitter account highlighted the rating, according to The Times of India.
The discussion has extended to whether the low score for 'Toxic' reflects personal taste or a deliberate statement, with some fans lauding his confidence, as noted by Times Now.