While the visuals have been praised for their cinematic style, many viewers found the presentation “cringe” and “painfully “ male-gaze driven.” On Reddit and X, several users said they were stunned that the film had been written and directed by a woman
Toxic’s latest promotional video has sparked a storm online. The slick retro-gothic visuals and stylised presentation of its female cast was appreciated but a growing section of social media users has accused the film of objectifying women — and what makes it more surprising is that the film is directed by a woman, Geetu Mohandas!
The promo introduces each of the film’s leading women through visually striking set pieces before drawing them into the larger narrative. Nayanthara gazes into a brightly lit vanity mirror framed by circus-inspired red drapes, Kiara Advani makes a glamorous entrance amid fire performers, Tara Sutaria channels a classic femme fatale in a smoky lounge, Rukmini Vasanth appears.
In an action sequence with a handgun on a vintage staircase, while Huma Qureshi leads a leather-clad goth-punk faction in a dimly lit dining hall.
One user on X wrote, “I can’t convince myself that this film was written and directed by a woman. It’s so painfully obvious that this movie is only going to cater to the male gaze.”
Another commented, “The nudity or sexual language isn’t what bothers me. It’s the way it’s presented. There’s a fine line between sensual and creepy, and from what I’ve seen, the Toxic makers don’t seem to know the difference.”
Several users questioned Geetu Mohandas’ creative choices, saying they did not expect a woman filmmaker to stage such scenes. Others also raised concerns over the teaser’s closing dialogue, which contains an explicit reference that they believe could invite scrutiny from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).
Too soon to criticize
Filmmaker Hemanth Madhukar believes the backlash is 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.
He also cautions against treating online criticism as representative of the larger 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,” he adds.
Meanwhile, a section of social media users has claimed it would approach women’s rights organisations 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 outrage remains to be seen as Toxic inches closer to its theatrical release.
Reactions
· #Toxic New teaser dedicated to women, yet most of them are introduced through objectification rather than character. Never expected this from a director like Geetu Mohandas & #Yash ??
The most VULGAR teaser of the DECADE.
· #ToxicTheMovie demeans women as an object of sex. Dialogues are not only CHEAP but downright anti-women. Usage of full-blown English will further curtail its reach among the masses. NO self-respecting woman should watch this PORNOGRAPHIC movie. And ANY man who respects women should BOYCOTT this piece of crap.
SHAME on @KvnProductions, @TheNameIsYash and all the ladies associated with the movie.
