In a strong indictment of the teaser of the controversial film Bad Girl, the Madras High Court has termed the video as containing “child pornography” and directed the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to ensure its removal from YouTube within a month. The court further directed the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) and the National Commission for Women (NCW) to monitor the issue and take appropriate action under existing child protection laws.
The judgment was delivered by Justice P. Dhanabal filed by three citizens who alleged that the teaser of Bad Girl, released on January 26, 2025, promotes child sexual exploitation and violates multiple Indian laws including the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Information Technology Act.
Court’s Observations on Teaser
Justice Dhanabal, after reviewing the content presented by the petitioners, stated that, “The content of the teaser of the Tamil movie ‘Bad Girl’ contains child pornography and the content discloses exploitation of children (school students shown), depicted in a sexual manner.”
Operative part of the judgement concerning “Bad Girl” movie teaser! pic.twitter.com/Luu5MW5Ovo
— karthik gopinath (@karthikgnath) July 22, 2025
He emphasized that such content directly harms the well-being of children and “spoils the minds of teenage children.” The court held that the online availability of such videos without age restriction was alarming. They said, “The pictures hosted in the YouTube can be accessed by anybody and there are no restriction to the children to access and to see the said pictures. If the children see the said contents of the videos, certainly it will
spoil the mind of the children.”
Justice Dhanabal went further to underline the State’s constitutional responsibility to safeguard children under Articles 39(f) and 45 of the Constitution of India, which mandate protection against exploitation and provision of early childhood care. He said, “It is the duty of the State to protect the children in all respects… Without social responsibility, the said obscene pictures have been uploaded in the social media. Therefore, it cannot be allowed to continue.”
He also remarked that the number of potential child victims could increase as long as the video remains available online, categorizing it as a “continuing offence.”
Directions to the Government
The High Court issued the following directives:
Union Ministry of Electronics and IT must ensure removal of the teaser from YouTube within a month.
NCPCR and NCW must investigate and take further action in accordance with law.
Notably, the Court waived the requirement to implead YouTube directly, stating, “As far as the non-impleading of the You tube platform is concerned, considering the serious nature of the issue, this Court need not wait till the impleadment of the YouTube as party to the proceedings, since the first respondent is a competent authority, he can issue notice to the concerned You tube and to take appropriate action to remove the obscene
contents and the videos.” where first respondent is the Union Ministry of Electronics & IT.
The Court, however, refrained from directing criminal prosecution at this stage, citing the lack of specific particulars, but clarified that the petitioners are free to approach appropriate authorities.
Background on Bad Girl Film
Bad Girl is directed by Varsha Bharath and backed by Dravidianist filmmaker Vetrimaaran in collaboration with Bollywood director Anurag Kashyap. It has courted controversy since its teaser was released, portraying a Tamil Brahmin schoolgirl engaging in behaviors that critics allege are aimed at vilifying Brahmin traditions and normalizing adolescent rebellion through sex, alcohol, and drug use. The teaser includes a scene that mimics a Brahmin religious ritual in a manner perceived to ridicule it.
The film, certified U/A by the CBFC, is scheduled for release on 5 September 2025.
Following the release of the teaser, there has been widespread backlash from social activists, the Tamil Nadu Brahmin Association (THAMBRAAS), and members of the film industry, including actress Sanam Shetty and director Mohan G Kshatriyan. THAMBRAAS has already issued a legal notice against the filmmakers, alleging defamation and cultural distortion.
Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.
