The Madras High Court, on Friday, July 18, directed the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY) to remove the teaser of the Tamil film Bad Girl from YouTube, saying that it sexualises minors and could corrupt the minds of teenage viewers.
“If the children see the said contents of the videos, certainly it will spoil the mind of the children. It is the duty of the State to protect the children in all respect. It is the social responsibility of every citizen to protect the children,” said Justice P Dhanabal, delivering the order.
The judge added that the teaser’s presence online constituted a continuing offence and that the Ministry must act swiftly to take it down, even though YouTube had not been impleaded as a party. The court held that the government is the competent authority to initiate appropriate action.
The petition was filed by three individuals, including S Venkatesh, a lawyer and father of two, who contended that the teaser, released on January 26, 2025, amounted to child pornography and violated the POCSO Act and the Information Technology Act. Despite online complaints to various authorities including the National Cyber Crime Portal and the National Commission for Women, no action had been taken, the petitioners submitted.
The court also directed the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) and the National Commission for Women (NCW) to monitor the situation and take appropriate action to curb child exploitation content online. While criminal action was sought against those behind the production and dissemination of the content, the court noted that sufficient details had not been provided and advised the petitioners to approach the appropriate authorities.
The teaser of Bad Girl, directed by debutant Varsha Bharath and produced by acclaimed filmmakers Vetrimaaran and Anurag Kashyap, has already sparked fierce backlash from right-wing groups and conservative voices. The film’s lead character, played by Anjali Sivaraman, is portrayed as a Brahmin schoolgirl who openly talks about sex, porn, and boyfriends.
A scene from the teaser shows the character being admonished for ‘polluting’ the house during her menstruation, prompting outrage from conservative Hindu groups who accused the film of vilifying Brahmin customs. Several right-wing accounts have also accused the filmmakers of pushing a “Dravidian” or “anti-Brahmin” agenda.
Even though director Pa Ranjith is not associated with the production, he faced online abuse for sharing the teaser and calling the film “bold and refreshing.” In contrast, director Mohan G, who is known for his anti-Dalit films, tweeted, “Try with your own caste girls and showcase it to your own family first.”
Despite the controversy, Bad Girl has received international recognition, winning the NETPAC Award at the 2025 International Film Festival of Rotterdam (IFFR). The jury praised the film for its energetic and layered portrayal of a young woman coming of age.
The NETPAC (Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema) award is presented on an annual basis to a feature film from the Asia and Pacific region. The film is chosen by a jury from the network. The film selected for this award must be from one of 71 eligible countries in Asia or the Pacific Nations and Islands to be considered.
Director Varsha, speaking at a promotional event, said she wanted to challenge the typical Tamil cinema portrayal of women as monogamous and pure. “I just wanted to write a character that is very relatable,” she said. “My film is not a self-help book. The lead character is flawed but doesn’t hurt others.”
The film’s release date is yet to be announced.
