Former BJP Tamil Nadu president K. Annamalai has sparked a significant debate by publicly questioning the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) regarding its clearance for actor Yash's latest film, 'Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups'. Speaking at a gathering in Coimbatore, Annamalai voiced strong disapproval of the film's depiction of women, suggesting it could have a detrimental impact on young viewers.
Annamalai's Strong Criticism and Social Concerns
Annamalai expressed disbelief that a film he believes disrespects women could receive certification and achieve a wide release. He highlighted the film's financial success, noting, "Yesterday I heard about a film. It made ₹104 cr on [its] first day. We speak toxic things, but they have named the film itself 'Toxic.' This film portrays women in a bad light, and it makes money."
His primary concern revolved around the message conveyed to students and young people, particularly amidst ongoing discussions about women's safety. Annamalai questioned the societal implications, stating, "If we make students watch this, what will happen to our country? We go to cities and talk about women's safety but CBFC gives a certificate for a film like this and it gets released. This film doesn’t respect women."
“Toxic” Box Office Performance and Production Details
Directed by Geetu Mohandas, 'Toxic' premiered on Wednesday in multiple languages, including Kannada, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam. Despite the controversy, the film saw a robust opening, reportedly collecting ₹108 crore net across India on its first day, excluding English versions. Its Hindi version alone contributed ₹55.4 crore net, surpassing Yash's previous blockbuster 'KGF: Chapter 2' in the Hindi market's opening day collections.
The film, which was reportedly produced on a budget exceeding ₹500 crore, stars Yash in dual roles as Raya and Ticket. The cast also features prominent actors such as Nayanthara, Kiara Advani, Tara Sutaria, Rukmini Vasanth, and Huma Qureshi. Despite its strong debut, 'Toxic' experienced a sharp decline in its box office performance on the second day, struggling to maintain the momentum typically seen with major pan-India releases.
The film has garnered mixed reactions from both audiences and critics, with discussions frequently centering on its portrayal of women, use of strong language, and graphic violence, further fueling the debate ignited by Annamalai's comments.