Censor board chief Prasoon Joshi breaks silence on Yash starrer 'Toxic' teaser controversy - Reports

The much-awaited teaser of Yash starrer ‘Toxic’ has been in the limelight since its release due to the portrayal of an intimate scene. Recently, CBFC chairperson Prasoon Joshi responded to it, where he stated that the board will not comment at this stage.For the unversed, the teaser has faced strong criticism from some groups. While speaking with India Today, Prasoon Joshi stated, “I don’t think I would give any comment right now.” He also said that the board can only act when a film or content is officially sent to them. Joshi also spoke about a common misunderstanding among viewers. He explained that many videos seen on YouTube, OTT platforms, and other digital media are not certified by the CBFC. He said, “I don’t think unless the things are applied to the certification board.” He added, “Sometimes, I also want to clarify that a lot of things you see on YouTube and other digital platforms, at times they are not certified.” According to him, people often think all content they see online has CBFC approval, but that is not true. Talking about the role of the board, Joshi said it is a tough job. He said, “Digital media, a lot of things you see, have not gone through the process of certification.” He also said it is unfair to blame the CBFC for content that was never reviewed by them. Joshi explained that CBFC members try to balance what a filmmaker wants to show and what society expects. He said, “They are trying to balance what the filmmaker is saying and what society expects.”Meanwhile, earlier, the women’s wing of AAP in Karnataka raised concerns over scenes they called obscene. Social activist Dinesh Kallahalli filed a complaint with the CBFC. The Karnataka State Commission for Women has also written to the board, asking it to look into the issue and take proper action.For the unversed, the film’s directed by Geetu Mohandas’ trailer has faced backlash primarily for an explicit intimate car scene featuring Yash and Brazilian actress Beatriz Taufenbach. It got sharp criticism for the portrayal of obscene visuals unsuitable for public viewing.