Public outrage has erupted following a violent chainsaw attack on a schoolgirl in Andhra Pradesh, allegedly carried out by a 21-year-old man. As news of the incident spread, several social media users, commentators and members of the film industry questioned the portrayal of graphic violence in contemporary cinema, citing films such as Animal, Toxic, KGF and Dhurandhar.
Director Sandeep Reddy Vanga, whose films Kabir Singh and Animal have faced criticism over their portrayal of aggression and masculinity, also found himself at the centre of the debate. Some critics questioned whether the depiction of onscreen violence could normalise dangerous behaviour among impressionable viewers.
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. 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.
— Sandeep Reddy Vanga (@imvangasandeep) November 4, 2026
Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Response
Responding to the criticism, Vanga issued a statement rejecting the tendency to blame cinema for acts of real-world violence. He argued that the immediate response to such incidents should be empathy for the victims, rather than an attempt to find a convenient scapegoat in films. The Spirit filmmaker also criticised certain members of the industry, accusing them of using public tragedies as opportunities to take potshots at their colleagues rather than expressing genuine concern for those affected.
“When someone commits a heinous crime, the first response should be empathy and an attempt to understand the larger problem. Not finding a convenient scapegoat in cinema,” the Arjun Reddy director said.
Vanga went on to take aim at what he described as self-appointed social reformers within the film industry, accusing them of invoking public concern to target the work of other filmmakers. “This (tweet) is especially directed at those failed frustrated jobless male/female actors, few directors, producers and parasites, who suddenly appoint themselves as social reformers whenever an opportunity arises to take a dig at someone else’s work,” he wrote.
A Controversial Animal Scene Enters the Debate
One particular sequence from Animal has resurfaced amid the online discussion. In the 2023 film, Ranvijay (played by Ranbir Kapoor) enters his sister’s school classroom carrying a loaded automatic rifle to intimidate the boys who have allegedly harassed her. He fires shots into the ceiling, using the weapon to threaten them.
The sequence had attracted criticism when the film was released, with viewers questioning its depiction of aggression and the protagonist’s use of violence. Following the latest attack in Andhra Pradesh, the scene has once again come under scrutiny, with social media users drawing parallels between its school setting and the real-life incident.
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