Miriam Joseph On Geethu Mohandas' Toxic
Kozhikode, Kerala: Miriam Joseph responded to the question of Geetu Mohandas’ upcoming film Toxic. She said Geetu is still an important part of the WCC (Women in Cinema Collective), and is busy in the making of Toxic.
Geetu Mohandas, the acclaimed filmmaker and actor of Malayalam film industry, has grabbed headlines recently, in relation with her upcoming film Toxic, starring south superstar Yash. After the release of the film’s teaser, discussions sparked with the portrayal of women in the film. With the teaser, the filmmaker was accused of potentially depicting women in objectifying and misogynistic light, an alleged contradiction to what she stood for so far.
Geetu is also part of WCC (Women in Cinema Collective) organisation, which includes women working in the Malayalam cinema industry. The organisation was launched aiming to bring social awareness against misogyny practices and intends to be the unified voice for the welfare of women artists in the industry.
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When the teaser of Toxic was released, Kasaba movie director Nithin Renji Panicker came forward slamming Geetu of hypocrisy. In a social media post, he said, “A visual representation of political correctness that contains not a trace of misogyny, objectification of women, male gaze, or the ‘toxic masculinity’ in Kasaba. The individual who escalated the situation with ‘SAY IT, SAY IT!!’ conveniently revised their interpretation of misogyny when crossed the ‘State’… ???”
WCC issued notice against the makers of Kasaba, and lead actor Mammootty over the alleged anti-women references in the movie.
Answering questions at Kerala Literature Festival (KLF) 2025, Miriam Joseph said Geetu is still part of the organisation. She was attending the WCC and CCC: A Way Forward session with filmmaker Anjali Menon.
As a clarification of the ongoing controversy and the organisation’s stand on it, she said, “We are not police. We are not going to police everyone. That is not our job, and that is not what we desire for”.
Addressing the issue, she said the organisation does not wish to see a sexist material, and if there is anything they want to say to Geetu, “we will do it inside the group. That is why we are a group”.
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She shoots back that if the one who raised the question, ever asked the AMMA (Association of Malayalam Movie Artists) – which also include male artists – that “what is happening inside there, why are you not revealing anything?”.
“Why would you ask such questions to only WCC. It was not only Geetu Mohandas who makes such sexist trailers, right? Many does that. Do you go to that male filmmakers and ask the same question?”, Miriam shot back.
“What we do among us is our business, and if there are women here who want to become a member of WCC, please come and join…because then you will understand what is happening inside” the organisation.
Miriam then adds that WCC also “deserves the right to be the organisation that we are, and to discuss what we want to within our ranks…We are normal filmmakers like everybody else…somethings have to be changed, some stances have to changed…No matter what questions you ask, we are going to be here”.
Miriam Joseph is a seasoned producer and former journalist backed with 35 years of media experience. Miriam currently resides in Kerala and works as a Consulting Producer.
