Cinema VinesThe much‑anticipated action drama "Toxic: A Fairytale for Grownups" has finally released its full trailer, less than three weeks before the film’s slated August 26 premiere. The clip, directed by Geetu Mohandas, focuses almost exclusively on superstar Yash, who plays a ruthless, double‑role antagonist. The footage opens with a tense scene of Yash in a toxic relationship with his son, then cuts to him brandishing a gun and vowing to kill an enemy’s brother. The trailer also showcases a series of violent set pieces and gratuitous sex scenes, with Yash’s character shown wooing multiple women and one scene where he disrespects Kiara Advani’s role. Women fighting over him are also featured, but the female cast—Nayanthara, Kiara Advani, Tara Sutaria, Rukmini Vasanth and Huma Qureshi—receive minimal screen time amid the relentless gore.
The film’s release schedule has been erratic. Originally slated for March, it was postponed to June citing “uncertainty in the Middle East.” A second delay in May pushed the date further back, leaving audiences without a confirmed date until the makers announced the August 26 release on Father’s Day. The film’s promotional material has sparked controversy from the outset. The first look, dropped on January 8—Yash’s birthday—featured a graphic sex scene set in a cemetery and a woman being gunned down, prompting backlash from a Christian group, a state women’s commission and even an FIR against the production team. Despite the criticism, industry figures such as Anurag Kashyap defended the teaser for its boldness.
Both the teaser and the full trailer have been condemned for misogynistic tones and the marginalisation of the five female leads. Critics argue that the marketing material places Yash’s character at the centre of a world of violence and power, with the women merely serving as background. The trailers, however, have broken viewership records, racking up millions of hits on YouTube within hours of release. The film’s director, Geetu Mohandas, and the cast have yet to respond to the controversy, but the debate over the film’s portrayal of gender and violence is already heating up in the media and on social platforms.
