The internet barely had time to finish wishing Yash a happy birthday when his ‘Toxic’ teaser landed him in hot water. The drama has now moved from social media to official government offices. Yes, even before ‘Toxic’ hits theatres, it has already become one of the most talked-about films of the year, and not just for cinematic reasons.
About ‘Toxic’ teaser
On January 8, Yash celebrated his 40th birthday by giving fans a special gift, the teaser of his upcoming film ‘Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups’. The teaser introduced him as a character named Raya and marked his first project after the massive success of ‘KGF: Chapter 2’ in 2022.
Fans were excited. The teaser went viral within hours. But along with cheers came sharp criticism. Some viewers, especially political and social groups, alleged that certain scenes in the teaser were obscene and sexually explicit.
Women’s Commission steps in against ‘Toxic’
The Karnataka State Women’s Commission (KSWC) has now officially entered the matter. On Monday, the commission wrote to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) asking it to take “appropriate action” after receiving complaints against the teaser.
The commission’s secretary sent a letter to the CBFC, referring to a petition filed by Usha Mohan, the Karnataka state secretary of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The letter requested the board to verify the complaint as per rules and submit a report on action.
In simple words, the Women’s Commission wants the CBFC to look closely at the teaser and decide if it breaks any rules.
AAP women’s wing raises serious concerns
Before the letter, leaders from the women’s wing of AAP’s Karnataka unit personally met officials of the Women’s Commission. They submitted a complaint demanding immediate action.
In her petition, Usha Mohan alleged that the teaser contains “obscene and explicit content” that harms the social well-being of women and children. She claimed that the teaser was released publicly without any age warning, making it easily accessible to minors.
According to the complaint, the scenes not only degrade the dignity of women but also insult Kannada culture. The party urged authorities to take strong steps including banning the teaser and removing it from social media platforms.
The petition clearly stated that the issue should be treated seriously to protect the cultural and moral values of the state.
Activist files separate complaint to CBFC
The controversy did not stop there. Social activist Dinesh Kallahalli also filed a formal complaint directly with the CBFC. He addressed the complaint to CBFC chairperson Prasoon Joshi.
Kallahalli described the teaser as “grossly obscene, sexually explicit, and vulgar in nature.” He expressed concern that the teaser is being widely shared on social media without any restrictions exposing children and young people to content he believes is legally and morally unacceptable.
Also Read: Toxic teaser: Yash drops first look on birthday; director Geetu Mohandas introduces Raya | Full cast, release date
He argued that such content crosses the limits of freedom of speech and expression guaranteed by the Constitution.
In his complaint, Kallahalli referred to the Cinematograph Act, 1952, the Certification of Films Rules, and CBFC guidelines. He said that all films and promotional material must meet standards of decency, morality, and social responsibility.
He also cited Supreme Court judgments, stating that obscenity and sexually explicit material are not protected under constitutional freedom of expression. According to him, the teaser of ‘Toxic’ goes beyond acceptable limits and therefore should not receive any protection.
What the ‘Toxic’ makers have released so far
So far, the makers of ‘Toxic’ have only released a brief teaser and first look. The film director is filmmaker Geetu Mohandas. They have shot it simultaneously in Kannada and English with dubbed versions planned in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, and other languages.
The project is ambitious and marks Yash’s big return after ‘KGF: Chapter 2’, which raised expectations sky-high.