Toxic teaser controversy has intensified after a Christian organisation formally complained to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), alleging that visuals in the teaser of Yash’s upcoming pan-India film hurt religious sentiments. The complaint comes weeks after the teaser faced backlash over an intimate scene, placing the high-profile action drama under scrutiny even before the release of its official trailer.
The National Christian Federation (NCF) has objected to the portrayal of Archangel Michael in the teaser, claiming that the depiction is inappropriate and offensive to the Christian community. The group has approached not only the CBFC but also the Film Chamber of Commerce and senior state government officials, including the Chief Secretary and Home Secretary, seeking immediate action.
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Complaint Filed With CBFC and State Authorities
In its formal submission, the NCF alleged that certain scenes in the teaser insult Christian religious symbols and sentiments. The organisation specifically took issue with visuals featuring a statue of Archangel Michael placed in a cemetery setting.
According to the complaint, the teaser includes a sequence showing a sex scene inside a car parked near a cemetery, followed by a gunfight at the same location. The federation argued that the presence of prominent religious symbols, including the statue, makes the depiction disrespectful.
The group has demanded that the controversial scenes be removed and urged the filmmakers to withdraw the teaser from YouTube and other digital platforms.
Objection to Cemetery and Intimate Scenes
The teaser, released last month by KVN Productions, marked Yash’s first look in the film and quickly generated buzz online. However, it also drew criticism from multiple quarters.
The NCF stated that staging intimate and violent scenes within a cemetery setting containing religious iconography is deeply objectionable. The organisation maintains that such portrayals hurt the religious feelings of the Christian community and should not be permitted in certified content.
Earlier Backlash and Complaint
The film had already faced criticism over what some viewers described as a graphic intimate scene in the teaser. A separate complaint was reportedly filed alleging that the sequence outraged the modesty of women.
Amid the mounting controversy, actor Beatriz Taufenbach, who appeared in the teaser, deactivated her Instagram account.
Industry Support Amid Outrage
Despite the backlash, Toxic has found support within the film fraternity. Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap addressed the controversy during a session titled Fearless Film Making at the 17th Bengaluru International Film Festival.
Describing the film as “an extremely courageous attempt,” Kashyap criticised what he termed cultural hypocrisy surrounding the outrage.
“The outrage expressed against the teaser reveals our cultural hypocrisy. When male actors appear shirtless on screen or display excessive machismo, no one questions it. But when a woman celebrates her sexuality, it becomes hard to accept,” he said.
As the controversy unfolds, it remains to be seen how the CBFC and concerned authorities will respond to the complaints, and whether the makers of Toxic will make any changes ahead of the film’s release.