Yash’s ‘Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Up s’ Makes History as India’s First Large-Scale Bilingual Film Shot in English and Kannada, Aiming for a Global Audience*
*Yash’s ‘Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-U ps’ Breaks Barriers as the First Indian Fi lm Shot in English and Kannada for a Glo bal Audience*
A groundbreaking cinematic endeavor, “Toxic” is the first ever large scale Indian film to be conceptualized, written, and fi lmed in both English and an Indian langu age, Kannada being the Indian language the film is being shot in, paving the way f or a truly global film experience. The fil m will be dubbed in multiple Indian and international languages, including Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam.
Rocking Star Yash’s “Toxic,” written and directed by the internationally acclaime ed Geetu Mohandas, is poised to redefin ne cross-cultural storytelling. Shot in bo th English and Kannada, the film aims fo r global resonance. Kannada captures th he nuances for Indian audiences, while E nglish ensures accessibility worldwide, r eflecting the filmmakers’ commitment t o authenticity and diverse reach.
“Our vision for ‘Toxic’ was to craft a narr ative that resonates authentically with audiences both in India and globally,” sa ys director Geetu Mohandas. “We’ve str ived to capture the nuances of the story in both Kannada and English, ensuring a n authentic experience for viewers acro ss different linguistic and cultural backg rounds. ‘Toxic’ explores a collaboration o f artistic vision and precision of comm e rcial storytelling. It’s a journey that tra nscends borders, languages, and cultur al confines, designed to connect with he arts and minds worldwide.”
Toxic, a film jointly produced by Venkat Narayana under KVN Productions and Y ash’s Monster Mind Creations, was conc eived as a global cinematic experience.T his vision is reflected in the collaboratio n between Yash, a box office phenomen on, and Geetu Mohandas, whose work h as been awarded at many international platforms, including the Sundance Film Festival and the Toronto Film Festival. The film’s international team—including action sequences by JJ Perry, best know n for his work in the John Wick and Fast & Furious franchises, and visual effects by DNEG, who recently won the BAFTA Film Award for Special Visual Effects for Dune: Part Two—was carefully assembl bled to match the project’s scale, furthe r emphasizing this global approach. The filmmakers’ commitment to authentic s torytelling and messaging led them to e mbrace the bilingual format.
Last month, on Rocking Star Yash’s birth day, the team released a “Birthday Peek k” offering a glimpse into the world of “Toxic.” The teaser generated significant excitement, showcasing the film’s scale and international-standard production values.
The film’s recently revealed bilingual na ture has required extensive preparation and extended days of shoot. Filming beg gan in August 2024. The filmmakers are invested in creating an immersive worl d, bringing together a top-tier global an d Indian talent pool. These factors comb ined have contributed to the project’s s cale and timeline, positioning Toxic as o ne of the most expensive Indian produc tions to date.
Producer Venkat K Narayana emphasiz ed the film’s ambitious scope, saying, “O ur goal for “Toxic” was crystal clear: a fil m that resonates in India and globally. Fr om the very beginning, we were driven by a deep conviction in this story and its potential. This unwavering belief fueled our “all-in” approach, required to bring this cinematic experience to life. We em braced the challenge wholeheartedly, co nfident that “Toxic” will not only captiva te audiences worldwide but also showca ase the brilliance of Indian cinema on a global stage.
