'Toxic' teaser: 'Obscene scenes' in Yash-starrer under lens; Karnataka women commission writes to CBFC

BENGALURU: The Karnataka State Women’s Commission (KSWC) on Monday wrote to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), seeking ‘appropriate action’ after the AAP lodged a complaint over alleged obscene scenes in the teaser of the film Toxic, starring actor Yash.Earlier, leaders of the women’s wing of the AAP’s state unit met officials of the commission and submitted a complaint, urging action against the teaser."It is hereby requested to take further action on the subject mentioned in the petition after verifying it as per rules and to submit an action-taken report in this regard," the commission's secretary said in a letter to the CBFC, citing a petition submitted by AAP state secretary Usha Mohan.In her petition, Mohan alleged that the ‘obscene and explicit content’ in the teaser was causing serious harm to the social well-being of women and children. She claimed the scenes were released in the public domain without any age-related warning and ‘degrade the dignity of women while insulting Kannada culture’.Citing the alleged adverse impact on society, particularly minors, the party urged the commission to intervene immediately and direct state authorities to ban the teaser and remove it from social media platforms.

"On behalf of the women's wing of the Aam Aadmi Party, we urge the commission to treat the matter seriously and take immediate action to uphold the cultural and moral values of the state," the petition said.The makers of Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups unveiled the first look of Yash on January 8, introducing him as ‘Raya’ through a brief teaser released on the actor’s 40th birthday.Directed by Geetu Mohandas, the film marks Yash’s first project since the blockbuster KGF: Chapter 2 in 2022.

Toxic has been shot simultaneously in Kannada and English, with dubbed versions planned in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and other languages.The teaser triggered mixed reactions on social media, with a section of users objecting to the visuals, accusing the film of ‘objectifying women’ and questioning the director in light of her earlier criticism of such portrayals. Another section, however, strongly defended the teaser and the film’s team.Produced by KVN Productions, Toxic is slated for release on March 19 and also stars Nayanthara, Huma Qureshi, Kiara Advani and Rukmini Vasanth in pivotal roles.(With agency inputs)