Mumbai: The National Christian Federation (NCF) has complained against Yash’s upcoming action film ‘Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups’, alleging that some scenes shown in the teaser hurt religious sentiments.
NCF has filed complaints with the Film Chamber of Commerce, the state government’s Chief Secretary and Home Secretary, as well as the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).
The Christian group has objected to the depiction of Archangel Michael in the teaser, claiming the visuals are inappropriate and amount to an insult to religious beliefs.
According to the complaint, the teaser features a sex scene inside a car parked outside a cemetery, followed by a violent gunfight inside the cemetery.
The location reportedly includes religious iconography, including a statue of Archangel Michael.
Demanding immediate removal of the scenes, the group has urged the makers to take down the teaser from YouTube and other social media platforms.
This is not the first controversy surrounding the film.
Earlier, the teaser was criticised for a graphic intimate scene, with some viewers calling it unnecessary and distasteful. A complaint was filed, alleging that the scene outraged modesty of women.
Following backlash, actor Beatriz Taufenbach, who appeared in the teaser, deleted her Instagram account.
Meanwhile, the film has received support from members of the film industry.
Defending the teaser during a session titled Fearless Film Making at the 17th Bengaluru International Film Festival, filmmaker Anurag Kashyap remarked, “The outrage expressed against the teaser reveals our cultural hypocrisy. When male actors appear shirtless or display excessive machismo, no one questions it. But when a woman celebrates her sexuality, it becomes hard to accept.”
Directed by Geethu Mohandas and co-written by Yash and Mohandas, ‘Toxic’ also stars Rukmini Vasanth, Nayanthara, Kiara Advani, Tara Sutaria, Huma Qureshi, Akshay Oberoi and Sudev Nair in key roles.
The film, slated to be released in theatres on March 19, will clash with Ranveer Singh’s much-anticipated ‘Dhurandhar 2’.
