In a significant development, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has issued an order for the immediate removal of the teaser for Varsha Bharath’s directorial debut, ‘Bad Girl,’ from all social media platforms.
The court’s decision comes in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) arguing that the teaser depicts minors in a ‘distasteful’ and ‘obscene’ manner, potentially constituting a “sexual offense.”
The controversial teaser, which was released in January 2025, had already stirred considerable debate online.
While some viewers appreciated its attempt to normalize age-appropriate curiosities of a teenage girl, others vehemently condemned it as ‘perversion’ and for sexualizing children. The film, which recently received a U/A certificate and is slated for a September 5th theatrical release, has also faced criticism for its portrayal of a Brahmin girl.
The Madras High Court has ordered the Central government to ensure the teaser’s removal within one month and to implement proper controls to prevent similar incidents in the future.
This order has put the makers of ‘Bad Girl’ in a tight spot, raising doubts about the film’s scheduled release date.
‘Bad Girl,’ produced by Vetri Maaran and presented by Anurag Kashyap, has garnered critical acclaim at international film festivals, including the NETPAC Award at the International Film Festival Rotterdam 2025.
The film, starring Anjali Sivaraman, Hridhu Haroon, and TeeJay Arunasalam, explores the coming-of-age journey of a South Indian girl.