Varsha Bharath’s Bad Girl has been one of the most talked-about films ever since its trailer was released.
The makers have been struggling to release it in India, with the film getting caught in a battle, either with the courts or the CBFC.
In recent news, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has ordered the Central Government to remove the teaser of Bad Girl from all social media platforms.
This comes after pleas were filed claiming that the teaser portrays minors in a distasteful manner. Acting on those concerns, the court directed the Central Government to take down the video.
Despite the controversy, the film was recently granted a U/A certificate and is set to release in theatres on September 5.
The teaser divided the internet. Some viewers praised it for normalizing age-appropriate curiosity in a teenage girl, while others condemned it as “perversion” and accused it of sexualizing children.
Religious extremists have objected to the portrayal of a Brahmin girl in the film, claiming it is unacceptable, adding fuel to the ongoing controversy.
Bad Girl marks the directorial debut of Varsha Bharath and is backed by acclaimed filmmakers Vetri Maaran and Anurag Kashyap. The film won the NETPAC (Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema) Award at the International Film Festival Rotterdam 2025, where it held its world premiere.
Anjali Sivaraman leads the cast, which also features Hridhu Haroon, TeeJay Arunasalam, Saranya Ravichandran, Shanthi Priya, and Sashank Bommireddipalli.
Fans have voiced their frustration, stating that no film should face such extreme scrutiny and that the government is exercising too much control over artistic expression.
While some understand the need for content regulation, many argue that the government must also respect the creative liberties artists are entitled to.
After all the controversy, fans are now eagerly waiting to watch Bad Girl in theatres.
