'Frustrated, jobless actor and directors’: 'Arjun Reddy' maker Sandeep Reddy Vanga after Andhra school chainsaw attack sparks film violence debate

A horrifying chainsaw attack on a Class 10 student at a school in Andhra Pradesh has left everyone shaken. It has also triggered a debate about showing violence in movies. Amid this, Sandeep Reddy Vanga got dragged into the debate. Now, reacting to this, the director of Arjun Reddy and Animal has hit back at those targetting him and his work, calling a few actors and directors, "failed, frustrated and jobless."

What happened?

In Andhra Pradesh, a 21-year old man, attacked a Class 10 student with a chainsaw. The attack took place on October 31 at Raptadu Zilla Parishad High School in Andhra Pradesh's Anantapur district. The 15-year-old was attacked in the classroom in front of her teacher and classmates. She was critically injured and was rushed to hospital for medical treatment.

Sandeep Reddy Vanga's response

The horrifying assault prompted many to blame movies for portraying violence. A few social media users brought up Sandeep Reddy Vanga's movies while discussing how cinema influences real-life behaviour. Responding to this, Vanga took to X and argued that instead of showing empathy towards the victime, people were blaming cinema for the crime. He said that finding a "scapegoat" was not the right response to the tragedy.


He also slammed those who used the incident to target his work. He called some actors, directors and producers, "failed, frustrated and jobless" and accused them of using the tragic incident to settle their personal scores. "A tragedy deserves empathy, not opportunism. Learn the difference," he wrote.

Updates about the Andhra chainsaw incident

As per reports, the victim is showing signs of recovery, meanwhile, the accused underwent an emergency amputation after police shot him in his leg while trying to apprehend him. After allegedly attacking the girl, the accused fled to a nearby forest. Police tracked him the following day.

When the accused tried to attack the Circle Inspector with a knife, police opened fire in self-defence, leaving both his legs critically injured. He was taken to Anantapur Government General Hospital under heavy security. The injuries had affected blood circulation in his right leg, causing tissue damage, that led to necrosis and gangrene. Doctors decided to amputate the leg above the knee to prevent infection from spreading.

While the accused remains under police custody as he recovers, the schoolgirl has been taken off the ventilator support and has been showing signs of recovery.