Director Sandeep Reddy Vanga has hit back strongly at people blaming cinema after a tragic incident at a school in Andhra Pradesh.
Following the incident, a section of people on social media pointed fingers at violent films, with some directly targeting Vanga and saying films like Animal influence such behaviour. The director responded with a sharp post on X.
“Not Finding a Convenient Scapegoat in Cinema”
Vanga said the focus after such a tragedy should be on the victims and on understanding the real problem.
“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,” he wrote.
“A Dirty Excuse to Settle Personal Scores”
The director went further, accusing some critics of using the tragedy for their own agenda.
“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,” he said.
A Direct Attack on Industry Critics
Vanga made it clear his message was aimed at people from within the film industry. He called out “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.”
He ended with a simple line: “A tragedy deserves empathy, not opportunism. Learn the difference.”
Not the First Time
This isn’t the first time Vanga has faced criticism over Animal. The 2023 film, starring Ranbir Kapoor, was a massive box office success, but it was also heavily criticised for its violence and its portrayal of relationships. Several people from the film industry spoke against it, and Vanga has never held back while responding to them.
The Bigger Debate
The incident has once again opened up the long-running debate about whether films influence real-life behaviour.
Some feel violent films can have an impact, especially on young viewers. Others, like Vanga, argue that blaming cinema takes attention away from the real issues behind such incidents, and away from the victims and their families.
What’s Next for Vanga
On the work front, Vanga is busy with Spirit, his much-awaited film with Prabhas.
