Director Geetu Mohandas is making waves again, this time with the teaser for her upcoming film Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups. Featuring none other than KGF star Yash, the teaser dropped today, January 8—right on Yash’s birthday. Naturally, fans are all over social media, buzzing about the surprise. But let’s shift the focus for a second—who is Geetu Mohandas, and what makes her stand out?
From Child Star to Award-Winning Filmmaker
Born Gayatri Das on June 8, 1981, in Kochi, Kerala, Geetu stepped into the limelight early. As a child artist in the Malayalam film Onnu Muthal Poojyam Vare (1996), she shared the screen with the legendary Mohanlal and snagged the Kerala State Film Award for Best Child Artist. Not a bad start, right? Her career evolved from there. She featured in acclaimed films like Akale, Nala Damayanthi, and Seetha Kalyanam. But acting wasn’t her final destination—directing was where she found her voice.
The Early Days of Geetu Mohandas
In 2009, Geetu Mohandas took a big step in her filmmaking journey by launching her production house, Unplugged, and directing her first short film, Kelkkunnundo. The project didn’t just win multiple awards—it put her on the map as a filmmaker to watch. Fast forward to 2013, and she made her feature film debut with Liar’s Dice. The film wowed critics, bagged two National Film Awards, and became India’s official entry for the Best Foreign Film category at the Oscars. Not bad for a first feature, right?
International Acclaim and Critical Success
Her next film, Moothon (2019), proved she wasn’t a one-hit wonder. The gritty drama received widespread acclaim and earned the Global Filmmaking Award at Sundance. Clearly, Geetu knows how to make waves on the international stage.
Meet the Cast of “Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups”
Toxic is shaping up to be a high-budget, star-studded spectacle with Nayanthara, Kiara Advani, and Huma Qureshi leading the cast. The film is rumored to be a drug-mafia action thriller set in the 1950s–1970s in Goa, but plot details are still hush-hush.
Release Date of “Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups”
Now, all eyes are on her upcoming project, Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups. Initially slated for release on April 10, 2025, Toxic has been pushed to a later date. Looks like we’ll have to wait a bit longer to see what Geetu has in store.
Conclusion
As Geetu Mohantas enters her biggest film till date, ‘Toxic’ does not seem to be toxic for her burgeoning career at all. From sharing screen space with Mohanlal to directing Yash, this Malayalam born director has come a long way from being a child artist. Toxic has an excellent star cast and the drug mafia story set against the backdrop of Goa beaches, is a perfect mix that could be just the right tipple. Even the release date is on the move, one thing is clear – Mohandas is brewing something strong in her directorial cocktail.
FAQs
Q1: Who is Geetu Mohandas, and why should I care?
A: Picture this: A child artist who acted along with Mohanlal got a Kerala State Film Award and then realized that acting was not a big enough test for her. Geetu Mohandas, born Gayatri Das, was an actor turned director and her first feature “Liar’s Dice” was selected as India’s official entry to the Oscars. She is the M. Night Shyamalan of Malayalam cinema, only without the twist – although the twist in her career from acting to directing was quite a story.
Q2: What’s the deal with “Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups”?
A: This isn’t your typical fairy tale Disney-like subtitle would have you believe. Shot in the backdrop of the drug-infested Goa of 1950s-70s, “Toxic” will have KGF star Yash sharing screen space with powerful female actors Nayanthara, Kiara Advani and Huma Qureshi. Originally planned for April 2025, the release has been moved – most likely because there is just too much awesome to be unleashed upon the world. Plot details are kept more secret than one’s grandmother’s secret pickle recipe.
Q3: What’s Geetu’s track record as a director?
A: I can only say she does not do average. Her short film “Kelkkunnundo” bagged awards. “Liar’s Dice” received two National Film Awards and an Oscar entry, and “Moothon” wooed Sundance with the Global Filmmaking Award. Having given three hits, she is the kind of director who doesn’t just set the bar high, she does pull-ups on it.
Amit Gupta is a 2016 graduate of Delhi University, India. After working over a decade as an additional writer at TheScoopVilla, he decided to start his own news publication. He mainly focuses on Bollywood News, Hindi and South Indian Movies, Web series articles and editorials. He likes to cooking and play cricket in his free time. Follow On Facebook.