Sandeep Reddy Vanga Slams Critics Blaming Movies For School Chainsaw Attack

Director Sandeep Reddy Vanga has strongly criticized social media commentators and internet content creators for blaming violent films like his movie Animal for a recent school attack in Andhra Pradesh. A 21-year-old man named Hemant entered a government school classroom in Raptadu on October 31 and attacked two class 10 students with a chainsaw. One student suffered critical injuries, including the loss of her right hand and multiple fractures, while the second student was hurt while trying to protect her friend.

Reactions And Arguments

Following the incident, several internet users, including prominent video creator Dhruv Rathee, argued that adult-rated blockbusters provide a template for such real-world violence. Responding on X on Wednesday, Vanga called these claims opportunistic and stated that critics were using a terrible tragedy to settle personal scores instead of showing empathy to the victims. Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma also defended movies against similar blame, comparing such accusations to blaming the epic Ramayana for kidnappings. Varma has previously praised Animal and compared Vanga's creative style to his own 1990 film Siva.

Context

Public debates over whether violent media influences real-world behavior often resurface following high-profile crimes, dividing filmmakers, critics, and audiences. While creators frequently defend artistic freedom and argue that cinema reflects society rather than shaping it, critics point to specific cinematic scenes as dangerous influences for impressionable minds.