Filmmaker Sandeep Reddy Vanga has broken his silence on the criticism directed at his work following a brutal chainsaw attack at a school in Raptadu, Anantapur district, Andhra Pradesh, that has sparked a national debate over the influence of violent cinema. Taking to social media platform X on 4 November 2026, the Animal director argued that tragedies demand empathy, not scapegoating.

Vanga's Statement

In his post, Vanga wrote: “When someone commits a heinous crime, the first response should be empathy & an attempt to understand the larger problem. Not finding a convenient scapegoat in cinema. It is becoming increasingly clear that your concern is not for the victims or their families, but that you’re using a horrific tragedy as a dirty excuse to settle your personal scores.”

The director also trained his sights on what he described as opportunistic voices within the film industry itself. “This is especially directed at those failed frustrated jobless male/female actors, few directors, producers & parasites, who suddenly appoint themselves as social reformers whenever an opportunity arises to take a dig at someone else’s work. A tragedy deserves empathy not opportunism. Learn the difference,” he added.

The Andhra Pradesh Chainsaw Attack

The incident at the centre of the controversy took place when a 21-year-old man, identified as Hemanth, allegedly entered a Class 10 classroom at a school in Raptadu and attacked a 15-year-old girl with a chainsaw. A second student, Lakshmi, was injured while attempting to shield her classmate from the assault. According to preliminary police findings, the accused is reportedly related to the victim and had allegedly been stalking her before attacking her after she rejected his advances.

The attack triggered widespread public outrage and reignited a long-running debate over whether films depicting violence — particularly those set in school or college environments — contribute to real-world aggression.

Why Vanga's Film 'Animal' Came Under Scrutiny

Several social media users drew parallels between the chainsaw attack and a sequence from Vanga's 2023 blockbuster Animal, starring Ranbir Kapoor, in which the lead character enters a school classroom carrying a loaded gun. Critics argued the scene normalises the idea of weaponised confrontation in an educational setting. The sequence, which had already attracted debate at the time of the film’s release, resurfaced prominently following the Raptadu incident.

Notably, this is not the first time Vanga's films have drawn fire for their portrayal of toxic masculinity, domestic violence, and glorification of aggression. His earlier film Kabir Singh generated similar controversy. The director has consistently maintained that his work reflects complex human realities rather than endorsing them.

Ram Gopal Varma Weighs In

Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma also entered the debate, posting on X that blaming cinema for real-world violence was misplaced. “Blaming films for rise in violence is like blaming Ramayana for rise in kidnappings,” he wrote, drawing both support and criticism in equal measure.

The Broader Debate

The controversy places fresh pressure on India’s film certification and content-regulation frameworks, with critics arguing that the Central Board of Film Certification’s approach to on-screen violence requires reexamination. Supporters of filmmakers like Vanga counter that restricting artistic expression is not a substitute for addressing root causes of gendered violence, including stalking and harassment. The debate is unlikely to be resolved quickly, and the Raptadu attack is expected to remain a reference point in future policy discussions on content regulation.