Exclusive | Kerala Distribution Rights Of Yash’s 'Toxic' Picked Up By E4 Entertainment

In what has now become a great deal for a non-Malayalam film in Kerala, Yash’s upcoming magnum opus Toxic will be distributed by E4 Entertainment, a popular production firm behind hits like Ezra, Godha, Por Thozhil, Guruvayoor Ambalanadayil and more. The amount remains undisclosed by the E4 team. It is headed by Mukesh Mehta and C.V. Sarathi. The upcoming film is directed by Geethu Mohandas, who had last directed Mothoon with Nivin Pauly and Roshan Mathew in the lead. Rajeev Ravi, the cinematographer of Toxic, has directed five films in Malayalam too, starring Dulquer Salman, Fahadh Faasil, Asif Ali and Nivin Pauly. E4 Entertainment have also distributed blockbusters like Pushpa 2, Animal, Leo, and Avatar.

Toxic: A Fairytale For Grown-Ups is expected to release across 350 screens in the state. Yash’s KGF 2 currently holds the record for the highest share by a non-Malayalam film in Kerala. KGF 2 is said to have grossed nearly ₹70 crore from the Kerala state alone, eclipsing the record of Bahubali 2: The Conclusion. 

Speaking about Toxic, Mukesh R Mehta of E4 Entertainment says, “We are thankful to KVN Productions and Monster Mind Creations for placing their trust in us to handle the Kerala distribution of Toxic — their magnum opus. It is an honour to collaborate on a project of such scale and ambition. Toxic represents a bold cinematic vision, and we are committed to ensuring that audiences across Kerala experience this landmark film in the grandest way possible.”

In the North, Anil Thadani’s AA Films has reunited with Yash, while in the Telugu states, Sri Venkateswara Creations (SVC), led by Dil Raju, will steer the film. On Sunday, we reported that the film had sealed another major deal. Zee Music Company has boarded the film in a landmark music rights acquisition, among the label’s most significant in recent years. The film’s music will feature a high-impact, multi-composer soundtrack with composers such as Ravi Basrur, Vishal Mishra, and Tanishk Bagchi bringing together diverse musical styles.  While Mishra has composed four songs, Bagchi contributes one track co-composed with Arslan Nizami and Faheem Abdullah (of Saiyaara fame), and Basrur delivers one song along with the film’s background score.

Produced by KVN Productions and Monster Mind Creations, the film is written by Yash and Geetu Mohandas, who has also directed it. According to the makers, the album will aim to blend "emotion, mass energy, and cinematic scale". The film has signed record-breaking deal for its Telugu dub too. Headed by veteran producer Dil Raju, SVC acquired the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana distribution rights for ₹120 crore on an advance commission basis, making it the biggest-ever acquisition for a non-Telugu origin film in the region. The film also secured a ₹105 crore overseas advance for its Indian-language editions, marking one of the biggest pre-release international deals for an Indian film.

Also starring Nayanthara, Kiara Advani, Huma Qureshi, Rukmini Vasanth, and Tara Sutaria, Toxic has been shot in Kannada and English, with dubbed versions across Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and other languages. The film is scheduled to hit theatres on March 19, when it will clash with Ranveer Singh-led Dhurandhar 2.