Yash’s much-awaited pan-India film Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups has received clearance from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) ahead of its theatrical release. The Geetu Mohandas directorial has been awarded an ‘A’ certificate and, surprisingly, has been cleared without any cuts, despite being promoted as a violent revenge drama.
Toxic gets A certificate
According to the CBFC certification details, Toxic has a runtime of around 3 hours and 12 minutes. The censor board has reportedly asked the makers to mute and replace two words or phrases in the Kannada version, with corresponding changes in the English subtitles. The film will also carry the mandatory anti-smoking and anti-drinking warnings. Apart from these minor modifications, no scenes have been removed from the film.
The no-cut certification has sparked amusement and debate online, particularly because the film reportedly features intense violence, adult themes and intimate sequences. Social media users compared the decision with the certification of other recent films and questioned the CBFC’s approach towards violence and mature content.
Some users also drew comparisons with Dhurandhar, which reportedly underwent several cuts despite its violent subject matter. Others pointed out that Toxic has faced more stringent censorship requirements in the UK, adding to the surprise surrounding its Indian certification.
Netizens question CBFC’s decision
The film has also been discussed online for its portrayal of women, with some viewers raising concerns about imagery and dialogues that they believe objectify female characters. The discussion further intensified after users contrasted the CBFC’s treatment of Toxic with its reported decision to remove a consensual kissing scene from Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Similar comparisons were also made with the censoring of a kiss in Superman.
Yash, who headlines the film and has also been involved in its writing, had previously acknowledged that Toxic is intended for adult audiences. During an appearance on Aap Ki Adalat, he reportedly advised children not to watch the film, describing it as an adult-themed story with a deeper narrative.
Directed by Geetu Mohandas, Toxic features a prominent ensemble cast, including Nayanthara, Kiara Advani, Huma Qureshi, Rukmini Vasanth and Tara Sutaria alongside Yash. The film is set to arrive in theatres on August 26.
With its ‘A’ certificate, lengthy runtime and reputation for graphic violence, Toxic is now generating considerable curiosity ahead of its release. The CBFC’s decision to allow the film to retain its content without major cuts has only added another talking point around the highly anticipated project.
Yash’s Toxic gets CBFC clearance without cuts despite violence, adult themes
