In the context of modern Malayalam cinema, "toxic" often refers to themes of toxic masculinity, dark psychological thrillers, or intense interpersonal drama. Films like Ishq or Kala have popularized this genre.

While this is the name of a famous Netflix anthology, in the world of short films, it often refers to the "nine emotions." Many independent creators use this title to explore diverse human feelings, sometimes through a provocative lens.

Channels like Saina Movies , Muzik247 , and various indie collective channels host some of the best Malayalam short films legally.