BENGALURU: Former BJP Tamil Nadu president K Annamalai has criticised the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), alleging that recent pan-India action films are increasingly glorifying excessive violence and misogynistic attitudes.
Responding to questions about Yash-starrer Toxic, Annamalai said India’s film-certification rules were not as stringent as those in several Western countries. He questioned how films containing excessive violence and objectionable content were being allowed to reach audiences across age groups.
Annamalai, however, clarified that he was not calling for films to be banned. Instead, he urged the CBFC to perform its role effectively, regardless of the stature of the actor involved.
He also appealed to single-screen theatre owners to strictly enforce age restrictions for films carrying an ‘A’ certificate, alleging that the rule is often not followed. Allowing minors to watch such films, he warned, could expose young viewers to excessive violence and unhealthy gender stereotypes.
Annamalai also criticised the portrayal of women as objects in films and the glorification of male characters having relationships with multiple women. Such depictions, he said, could have a negative influence on young audiences.
His remarks come amid online discussions surrounding Toxic, particularly scenes featuring Yash and Kiara Advani in the song Tabaahi. The comments have since triggered debate on social media, with some viewers backing his concerns over violence and the portrayal of women in mainstream cinema.