Toxic director Geetu Mohandas reacts to teaser backlash with rage-bait post
Geetu Mohandas had been subjected to immense trolling over the content of the Toxic teaser that came out on leading man Yash’s birthday on January 8. Her new post has added fuel to the fire
Last Updated: 06.07 PM, Jan 09, 2026
On January 8, when the much-awaited character introduction teaser of Rocking Star Yash from his next Toxic came out, there was an almost immediate outburst of criticism, from most corners, especially from Malayali audiences, who felt that director Geetu Mohandas had embraced a cinematic language that she had earlier condemned publicly. The teaser featured Yash’s character engaged in a sex act in the back of a car with the corresponding movement then triggering dynamite explosions across a cemetery. The visuals inside the car, of course, linger on the woman, which is what has got the goat of most audiences.
How could Geetu, who has been a vocal opponent of objectification of women in cinema, do exactly that in her own film, not once, but twice already? The birthday teaser on Yash’s birthday in 2025 had also been called out. No surprise, then, that netizens wondered if she had thrown her principles out the window given the investment that’s at stake with Toxic.
Geetu's response to the trolling has triggered more of it
For more than 24 hours after the backlash began, Geetu maintained a dignified silence, choosing only to post a long note about Yash and the experience of working with him. And then as an answer to all the ‘Say it’ posts (a callback to Geetu coaxing Parvathy Thiruvothu to name the Malayalam movie she found misogynistic – Kasaba), she put up an Instagram story and post featuring her buddy and actress Rima Kalingal that read, “Chilling while people figure out female pleasure, consent, women playing systems, etc etc”.
This, of course, was just the rage-bait this audience that had been targeting her was looking for. Comments ranged from, “Calling it consensual is a reach. The scene is clearly meant to establish the character and she is merely used as a weapon”, to “As an artist you have full freedom to explore any story or adult theme. That is the beauty of art. The issue is not your choice; it is the way criticism is being twisted into an anti-women or anti-Geetu movement. The audience is reacting to the objectification of women”, “You can’t say anything that will make sense of this hypocrisy”, among others.
Toxic FAQs
Q. Who is the director of Toxic A Fairy Tale for Grown Ups?
A. Toxic A Fairy Tale for Adults has been directed by Moothon maker Geetu Mohandas in what is her Kannada debut. She has co-written the film with leading man Yash.
Q. Where to watch Toxic A Fairy Tale for Grown Ups?
A. Toxic will be in theatres on March 19, 2026. A Kannada original film, it will have dubbed versions in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and English as well.