Amaal Mallik Defends Cinema After Andhra Pradesh Chainsaw Attack

Singer and composer Amaal Mallik has entered the public debate over violent movies following a shocking incident in Andhra Pradesh where a 21-year-old man named Hemanth attacked a Class 10 student with an electric chainsaw after she rejected his advances. The violent assault sparked widespread discussions on social media, with critics pointing fingers at adult-rated Bollywood hits like Animal, Kabir Singh, KGF, and Aditya Dhar's spy thriller franchise Dhurandhar for allegedly giving impressionable youth a blueprint for real-world violence.

Mallik's Defense

While calling the school attack horrifying and completely wrong, Mallik rejected the idea that movies are the primary driver of such crimes, stating plainly that anyone who gets that easily influenced is a fool. According to the musician, personal behavior is shaped by a mix of family values, upbringing, local political climates, and individual trauma rather than just the silver screen. He also turned the spotlight onto his own industry, asking why movies face severe backlash while certain song lyrics, reality shows, and aggressive rap music on YouTube and Instagram about murder and women objectification get a free pass. He named several popular tracks, including his own songs Kar Gayi Chull and Rom Rom Romantic, alongside Beedi Jalaile, Pink Lips, Chikni Chameli, and Munni Badnaam, questioning why they are constantly celebrated on reality television.

Context

Public debates over the societal impact of violent media often resurface following high-profile crimes, dividing opinions between creators defending artistic freedom and critics demanding tighter content regulations. Age ratings and parental guidance systems exist precisely to manage what children consume, placing a shared responsibility on both filmmakers and families.