Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma Defends Movies Amid School Chainsaw Attack Controversy
Ram Gopal Varma responds to criticism of films promoting violence following a shocking chainsaw attack in Anantapur school.
Anantapur, November 1 (Daily Kiran) : Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has responded to criticism aimed at movies accused of normalizing and promoting violence. On Sunday, he took to his social media platform to express that the anger directed at violent films often misplaces the blame.
He stated, “Blaming movies for the rise in violence is akin to blaming the Ramayana for the increase in kidnapping incidents.”
This statement comes in the wake of a shocking incident in Anantapur, where a 21-year-old man named Hemant attacked a 15-year-old girl with a chainsaw inside a school classroom. The attack occurred as the girl was in the 10th grade. In an attempt to save her classmate, another student named Lakshmi was also injured. Initial police investigations revealed that the assailant had been stalking the victim for some time. After she rejected his advances, he carried out the attack. The victim is currently being treated at Manipal Hospital in Bengaluru, where her condition is reported to be stable.
Following this incident, many on social media criticized filmmaker Sandeep Reddy Vanga, referencing a scene from his film “Animal,” in which actor Ranbir Kapoor enters a classroom wielding a loaded gun. The horrifying school attack has reignited discussions about this particular scene.
One user commented, “When Dhruv Rathee accused Aditya Dhar and Sandeep Reddy Vanga of promoting violence and propaganda through films like ‘Dhurandhar,’ right-wing individuals attacked him. Now we are witnessing the consequences of normalizing hate and glorifying violence. Questioning cinema in India seems to be a greater offense than the mentality these films propagate.”
Another user pointed out, “There is a scene in ‘Animal’ where Ranbir Kapoor enters a classroom with an AK-47. This is the outcome of such films. When will Sandeep Reddy Vanga and actors like Ranbir Kapoor be held accountable for poisoning the minds of youth?”
A third user expressed concern, stating, “Witnessing horrific real-world events is genuinely frightening, and then seeing people defend Sandeep Vanga, who portrays extreme violence as ‘masculine’ or ‘alpha’ behavior, glorifies this madness and erodes our basic human sensibilities.”
Varma has been a vocal supporter of Vanga, frequently praising him and his filmmaking style, while Vanga himself regards Varma as a mentor. Meanwhile, the assailant has been apprehended and is currently in custody in Dharmavaram.
