‘No one joined dacoits after Sholay, nor did people start living in joint families post Hum Aapke Hain Koun’: Ram Gopal Varma reveals only purpose of a filmmaker | Bollywood News
As much praise as Ram Gopal Varma’s films have received, they have also faced criticism, particularly for their bold themes, often presented in a raw manner. Even his works that are now considered classics — predominantly his crime actioners — received polarised responses over the years, with some audience members opining that the filmmaker romanticises organised crime. Nonetheless, Ram Gopal Varma (popularly known as RGV) always played his own rules and made the movies he wished to make.
One of the most influential filmmakers in Indian cinema post-1990s, RGV recently weighed in on the topic of whether directors should have a sense of responsibility towards society and if their work should reflect that. “When I made Satya (1998), some people said I romanticised violence and that I showed these people (those involved in organised crime) as nice individuals. Many have also often said that I glorify violence. As a filmmaker, do I want to create an impact on the audience so that they feel thrilled and maybe see the film again, which will help make it a commercial success, or be responsible and feel that showing something like this can negatively influence some? I definitely disagree with the second way of thinking,” he stated during an exclusive interview with SCREEN.
He continued, “Although Sholay (1975) is the most successful film of all time in Indian cinema hory, no one went and joined the dacoits because of it. Hum Aapke Hain Koun (1994) was a massive hit, but I don’t think people started living in joint families just because of that film. The only purpose of any filmmaker is to entertain people with their movies. They can scare the audience, thrill them, make them laugh, or cry using the various tools of cinema.”
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Turning back the clock a bit, we also revisited a statement he made a decade ago, when he said he doesn’t make movies with the goal of entering the “crore clubs.” RGV then maintained that had he been driven such motives, he wouldn’t have been able to make films like Satya and Kaun (1999). Since then, the industry has only become more business-oriented, with most discussions about a movie beginning and ending with its collection. When asked whether he still stood that opinion and whether he viewed the box-office-centric culture as a boon or a bane, RGV shared that his thinking has since evolved and that he now believes a movie’s collection is essential.
Watch SCREEN’s exclusive interview with Ram Gopal Varma here:
“I meant that back then, but I no longer think so. I feel it should be box office-driven. The primary reasons are the amount of money involved in producing a film, as well as the number of people involved, their careers, and expectations. It’s an industry; it is no longer art. Art can be for one person — the one who made it. But overall, it’s a commercial product, and any product must generate as much profit as it can. That’s the right way to do it.”
Ram Gopal Varma is currently gearing up for the re-release of his directorial debut venture, the Nagarjuna-starrer Shiva (1989), which will hit the screens on November 14.
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Anandu Suresh is a Deputy Copy Editor at Indian Express Online. He specialises in Malayalam cinema, but doesn’t limit himself to it and explores various aspects of the art form. He also pens a column titled Cinema Anatomy, where he delves extensively into the diverse layers and dimensions of cinema, aiming to uncover deeper meanings and foster continuous discourse. Anandu previously worked with The New Indian Express’ news desk in Hyderabad, Telangana. You can follow him on Twitter @anandu_suresh_ and write (or send movie recommendations) to him at anandu.suresh@. … Read More
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