Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has weighed in on the growing criticism of films that are accused of glorifying violence, following a shocking attack on a schoolgirl in Andhra Pradesh. Responding to the debate surrounding violent content in cinema, the director argued that blaming films for real-world crimes is misplaced.

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In a post shared on X on Sunday, RGV compared the criticism of violent films to holding the epic Ramayana responsible for kidnappings.

“Blaming films for rise in violence is like blaming Ramayana for rise in kidnappings,” he wrote.

The incident has also brought renewed attention to a scene from Sandeep Reddy Vanga's ‘Animal’, starring Ranbir Kapoor. In the film, the actor's character enters a school classroom carrying a loaded gun.

Several social media users have drawn parallels between the cinematic depiction of violence and the real-life school attack, directing criticism at Vanga and the film's portrayal of aggression.

A social media user specifically referred to the classroom sequence in ‘Animal’, asking when filmmakers and actors would be held accountable for the influence of such portrayals on young audiences.

One user questioned the response to critics of violent cinema, writing, "When Dhruv Rathee called out Aditya Dhar and Sandeep Reddy Vanga for glorifying violence and propaganda through films like Dhurandhar, the right-wing went after him with abuse. And now we're witnessing the kind of consequences that come from normalising hatred and glorifying violence. But In India questioning cinema is a bigger crime than questioning the mindset it promotes".

Another user expressed concern about the celebration of extreme violence as a sign of masculinity, arguing that repeatedly glorifying such behaviour on screen could affect people's sense of empathy.

Andhra Pradesh school attack sparks debate over violent cinema

The filmmaker's remarks come amid widespread outrage over a chainsaw attack at a school in Raptadu, in Andhra Pradesh's Anantapur district. A 21-year-old man identified as Hemanth allegedly entered a classroom where Class 10 students were present and attacked a 15-year-old girl with a chainsaw.

Another student, Lakshmi, was injured while trying to intervene and protect her classmate. Preliminary police investigations suggest that the accused, reportedly a relative of the primary victim, had been stalking her. He allegedly attacked her after she rejected his advances.

The injured girl is receiving treatment at Manipal Hospital in Bengaluru and was reported to be in a stable condition.

RGV's support for Sandeep Reddy Vanga

Ram Gopal Varma has consistently expressed admiration for Sandeep Reddy Vanga and his filmmaking style. The veteran filmmaker has publicly praised the ‘Animal’ director on several occasions, while Vanga has also acknowledged RGV as an influence on his own filmmaking journey.

Meanwhile, the accused in the Andhra Pradesh school attack has reportedly been traced and taken into custody in Dharmavaram. 

Agency inputs