Police said Vemburaj approached Kanagalakshmi near the Bharathiyar University campus on Wednesday and picked up an argument with her, seeking to know the reason behind her not reciprocating his love for her.
As she repeatedly asked him to move away, he broke a glass bottle and stabbed her on the neck and fled from the spot.
Onlookers rushed the victim to a hospital, where she is recovering now, police said.
Vemburaj was arrested later and remanded to custody.