Yash’s upcoming film Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups is generating strong pre-release interest, but it has also equally sparked multiple controversies with several complaints filed against its teaser. The National Christian Federation recently lodged a formal complaint, claiming that certain visuals disrespect Saint Michael, an important Christian figure, and offend religious beliefs. Before this, other groups and activists objected to some scenes in the teaser, stating that they were obscene, sexually suggestive, and potentially harmful to public sensibilities, especially for women and children. These complaints have been sent to the Karnataka State Women’s Commission and the Central Board of Film Certification for review.
In response to the issue, Dr Jayamala, President of the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce, urged viewers not to make conclusions based solely on a teaser. She pointed out that Toxic has not yet received certification from the censor board, so no final judgment on its content can be made at this point.
“Complaints have come in about the Toxic teaser, but I am not aware of what exactly is wrong,” Dr. Jayamala said. “A teaser is just a glimpse meant to attract audiences to theatres. Discussing the film before it has been reviewed by the censor board is premature. Filmmakers invest hundreds of crores into their work, and viewers should see the full film before forming an opinion.”
She noted that filmmakers generally respect diverse cultural and religious values and criticised hasty judgments based on short clips or images. “Without knowing the full story or the narrative intention, it is not appropriate to conclude what the film contains,” she said.
In response to the allegations, Dr. Jayamala confirmed that the producers have denied the existence of any obscene or disrespectful scenes. Since the film is still awaiting certification, any identified issues will be addressed by the censor board. She mentioned that if corrective action is needed, the regulatory bodies will take the necessary steps.
Earlier complaints pointed to a scene in the teaser thought to be sexually explicit and not suitable for family viewing. Activists and women’s groups have urged the censor board to review the promotional material and clarify guidelines for teasers.
Written by Yash and Geetu Mohandas and directed by Geetu Mohandas, Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups stars an ensemble cast featuring Kiara Advani, Nayanthara, Tara Sutaria, and Rukmini Vasanth. It has been shot simultaneously in Kannada and English. Dubbed versions are planned in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, and other languages. Produced by Venkat K Narayana and Yash under KVN Productions and Monster Mind Creations, Toxic is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on March 19 .
