Toxic Loaded With Glam Quotient, But Too Early to Judge

After delivering one of Kannada cinema's biggest blockbusters with KGF, Yash took a long break before returning with his ambitious action drama Toxic, scheduled to hit theatres on August 26. The film's latest promotional video has generated considerable buzz, introducing its ensemble of leading women through visually striking, retro-gothic vignettes that have become the talk of social media.

The promo presents each character in a distinct setting before drawing them into the film's larger narrative. Nayanthara is seen gazing into a brightly lit vanity mirror framed by circus-inspired red drapes, while Kiara Advani makes a glamorous entrance amid fire performers. Tara Sutaria channels a classic femme fatale in a smoky upscale lounge, Rukmini Vasanth shifts the mood with an action-packed moment as she draws a handgun on a vintage staircase, and Huma Qureshi leads a leather-clad goth-punk faction in a dimly lit dining hall.

The teaser's strong emphasis on glamour and stylised visuals has sparked mixed reactions online. While many praised its aesthetics and production design, others questioned whether the portrayal of the female characters leaned excessively towards objectification. Filmmaker Hemanth Madhukar believes such conclusions are premature.

"We cannot judge the female characters without watching the entire film. If the story demands multiple heroines and glamorous portrayals, there is nothing wrong with it. Director Geetu Mohandas has already shown through the teaser and trailer that Toxic is primarily an action-driven film. She has proved that staging large-scale action sequences or depicting bold scenes is not exclusively a male domain," he says.

Kiara Advani's bold screen presence, along with the stylised introduction of the other women, has become one of the biggest talking points surrounding the promo. Some viewers have also raised concerns over the teaser's closing dialogue, which contains an explicit reference and could potentially invite scrutiny from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) during the certification process.

Hemanth Madhukar, however, cautions against treating social media discourse as representative of the broader audience. "Gen Z audiences are more open to bold storytelling, and combining action with glamour has become a common formula for pan-India films. We shouldn't jump to conclusions because social media represents only a small fraction of the overall audience. Yash's screen presence, attitude and mass appeal remain the biggest attractions, and he will be hoping that Toxic emerges as another blockbuster," he says.

Meanwhile, some social media users have claimed they would approach women's rights bodies over what they describe as the excessive objectification of women in the promotional material. Whether those concerns translate into formal complaints or remain confined to online debate will become clear as the film moves closer to its release.