'Kasaba' director Nithin Renji Panicker calls out Geethu Mohandas for objectifying women in 'Toxic'

'Kasaba' director Nithin Renji Panicker has lashed out at 'Toxic' director Geethu Mohandas for celebrating the male gaze and 'objectifying women' in her upcoming movie 'Toxic'. The makers of the film released a sneak peak video from the film featuring Yash on his birthday on Wednesday.

Yash who is dressed in a crisp white suit, fedora captures everyone's attention as he enters the room holding a cigar. Scantily-dressed women can be seen partying in the teaser, which brims with bold and provocative moments.

The short video garnered over 25 million views within 11 hours of its release. However, Nithin Renji accused Geethu of 'conveniently revising the definition of misogyny after crossing state borders'. For the uninitiated, Geethu has often criticised misogynistic scenes in Malayalam films and had also backed Parvathy Thiruvothu's statement regarding a derogatory scene involving Mammootty in 'Kasaba'.

Nithin's accusations have sparked conversations on social media with many weighing in on the director's statement whether it holds merit. Director Geetu Mohandas, meanwhile, spoke about her upcoming film and said 'Toxic- a fairytale for grown-ups is a story that defies convention.

“Today, as we release the first peek of our film we also celebrate Yash - a man the nation reveres for his vision and swagger. I have observed his brilliance and to those who know him or follow his journey, his process is as mysterious as it is meticulous. It is both a privilege and a thrill to have co- written this captivating world alongside a mind that sees the extraordinary where others see the ordinary. When our two worlds of thought collided, the result is neither compromise nor chaos—it’s the transformation that happens when artistic vision meets the precision of commercial storytelling transcending borders, languages, and cultural confines. We hope to bring an experience woven to ignite something primal in all of us- a film not just to be watched, but to be felt,” she said.