The release of Yash-starrer Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups has triggered a fresh controversy, with YouTubers and online reviewers claiming they received legal notices after posting critical reviews of the film.
According to The Times of India, the development follows an ex-parte interim injunction that the film’s producers obtained from a Bengaluru court before its release. The order restricts the publication or circulation of allegedly false, malicious, defamatory or derogatory content about the film, but does not amount to a blanket ban on negative reviews or criticism.
On Thursday, YouTuber Suraj Kumar shared a screenshot of a legal notice he said he received over his Toxic review. Bengaluru-based Aiplex Software Private Limited sent the notice on behalf of KVN-Monster Mind Creations LLP, identified in the communication as the producer and copyright owner of the film. His review, posted hours after the film’s 26 August release, remained online at the time of reporting.
The notice said the film’s team had identified online content that had been “published, circulated, shared, posted and/or otherwise communicated” through digital media. Suraj posted the notice without saying he had removed his review, writing: “Thank You Team #Toxic For the Legal Notice on My Review.”
Tamil YouTuber Prashanth Rangaswamy has also claimed that he received a legal notice over his review. He wrote on X that he had received legal action from Yash and KVN Productions and criticised the actor as “another rich and influential person”. However, unlike Suraj, Prashanth did not publish a screenshot of the notice, and his claim could not be independently verified.
An X influencer was reportedly the first to claim receiving a notice, shortly after posting a negative review of the film. His Tamil-language post questioned why the makers were sending court notices.
The notice sent to Suraj stated that Aiplex had authorisation to act for the producers on matters involving online content related to Toxic. Its powers included issuing legal and takedown notices, making de-indexing and blocking requests, and contacting intermediaries, internet service providers, search engines, domain registrars, social media accounts, hosting providers and other relevant entities. The authorisation letter was valid from 13 July to 26 September.
Importantly, the notice itself is not a court order requiring Suraj to remove his review. It is a communication from the producers’ authorised representative.
The legal notices follow the Bengaluru court’s 22 August interim order. The Additional City Civil and Sessions Court issued the ex-parte injunction in a case filed by KVN Productions LLP against several defendants, including X Corp and an unidentified “John Doe” representing unknown individuals. The order remains in force until the next hearing on 28 September.
The court also stated that the injunction could not be used beyond the purpose for which it was granted. It would be vacated without further notice if the producers failed to comply with the conditions imposed by the court. KVN Productions sought the injunction under Order 39, Rules 1 and 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
The controversy has intensified because Toxic has received a mixed-to-negative response from critics and audiences. The legal notices have sparked debate over whether the producers are attempting to control criticism surrounding the film.
However, there is a distinction between criticism and defamatory or false material. The court order concerns allegedly false or defamatory content. A legal notice from the producers’ representative does not itself establish that a particular review is defamatory.
Aiplex has previously faced similar allegations. Telugu YouTuber Sushant, who runs Barbell Pitch Meetings, has accused the company of using copyright strikes and legal notices against critical film reviews during crucial opening weekends.
Toxic opened in cinemas on 26 August. Its reported box-office performance also became part of the debate, with collections falling from around Rs 101 crore nett on the opening day to approximately Rs 36 crore in India on the second day.
Directed by Geetu Mohandas, Toxic stars Yash in dual roles alongside Kiara Advani, Nayanthara, Huma Qureshi, Tara Sutaria and Rukmini Vasanth. Venkat K Narayana and Yash produced the film under KVN Productions and Monster Mind Creations LLP.
