'Teaser hurts religious sentiments'; Christian organisation files complaint against Geetu Mohandas's Toxic

MUMBAI: A Christian organisation has lodged a complaint against the pan-Indian film 'Toxic', starring Yash and directed by Geetu Mohandas. The National Christian Federation has objected to the film’s teaser, alleging that it hurts religious sentiments. The organisation has submitted complaints to the Film Chamber, the Karnataka Chief Secretary, and the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

The teaser had earlier sparked controversy over its intimate scenes. In its latest complaint, the organisation alleged that some of these visuals shown in the teaser are set in front of Christian symbols and a statue of Archangel Michael, which it claims is offensive to the community. The Federation has demanded that the teaser be removed from YouTube immediately and that certain scenes be altered. Complaints regarding the film had previously been filed with the Karnataka Women’s Commission and the censor board as well.

'Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups' is directed by Geetu Mohandas, with Yash playing the lead role. The film features Nayanthara, Rukmini Vasanth, Kiara Advani, Tara Sutaria, and Huma Qureshi in key roles. The screenplay has been co-written by Yash and Geetu Mohandas. The film is slated for a theatrical release on March 19. The makers are planning a simultaneous overseas release in all international markets except Nepal, Japan, and China. The film boasts a strong technical team, including National Award-winning cinematographer Rajeev Ravi, music director Ravi Basrur, editor Ujwal Kulkarni, and production designer T.P. Abid.