Karnataka Women’s Commission flags ‘obscene’ scenes in Toxic teaser, writes to CBFC

Toxic teaser sparks controversy as Karnataka Women’s Commission seeks CBFC action

• Yash's film Toxic teaser sparks controversy over explicit visuals
• AAP files complaint with Karnataka Women's Commission over teaser content
• CBFC urged to take action; makers of Toxic yet to respond to backlash

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Yash’s upcoming film Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups has found itself in the spotlight for reasons beyond its star power.

The film, directed by Geetu Mohandas, released its much-anticipated teaser on January 8 to mark Yash’s 40th birthday. While fans celebrated the reveal, the teaser has also sparked a heated debate, with several voices raising concerns over its explicit visuals.

The 2.51-minute teaser presents Yash in a never-seen-before avatar as a gangster named Raya. Set in a dark, violent world, the teaser includes a controversial scene in which the character is shown engaging in a sexual act inside a car parked near a cemetery, while violence unfolds nearby and armed men are seen in another vehicle. The raw imagery, intended to establish the film’s gritty tone, quickly became the centre of criticism.

According to PTI, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) took objection to the teaser and, on Monday, lodged a complaint with the Karnataka State Commission for Women (KSWC).

Members of the women’s wing of the party’s Karnataka unit met officials of the commission and formally demanded action, including the removal of the teaser from public platforms.

Following the complaint, the Karnataka State Commission for Women wrote to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), urging it to take “appropriate action” regarding the matter.

AAP state secretary Usha Mohan voiced strong concerns, saying, “The obscene and explicit content in the teaser of this movie is causing serious harm to the social well-being of women and children. These scenes, released in the public domain without any age-related warning, degrade the dignity of women and insult Kannada culture.”

The party also flagged what it described as the teaser’s “adverse impact on society, particularly on minors,” and urged the commission to intervene. In its appeal, the women’s wing added, “On behalf of the women’s wing of the Aam Aadmi Party, we urge the women's commission to treat the matter seriously and take immediate action to ‘uphold the cultural and moral values of the state.’”

Also Read: Toxic teaser sparks debate; Geetu Mohandas responds to backlash over intimate scene

As of now, the makers of Toxic have not responded publicly to the controversy. Despite the backlash, the film remains one of the most talked-about projects in Kannada cinema.

Alongside Yash, the film features a strong ensemble cast including Nayanthara, Huma Qureshi, Kiara Advani, Tara Sutaria, and Rukmini Vasanth.

Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups is scheduled to hit theatres on March 19, where it will face box-office competition from Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar Part 2: The Revenge.