Film director Ram Gopal Varma opens up on Saaree’s OTT release, changing film trends, and what’s next in his cinematic journey

Murtuza Iqbal 

Ram Gopal Varma is one of the most popular Indian filmmakers. He is known for his movies like Shiva, Rangeela, Satya, Kaun, Jungle, Company, Bhoot, Sarkar franchise, and others. A few months ago, his production venture Saaree (Telugu) was released in theatres, and recently, it started streaming on Lionsgate Play. The Free Press Journal interacted with RGV and spoke to him about Saaree, how OTT is helping filmmakers, his upcoming movies, and more... Excerpts: 

Q. How did this idea of Saaree come into your mind?

A. I always kept hearing stories of how people connect on social media without knowing each other’s backgrounds. They start getting into some kind of relationships, maybe only friendly, but sometimes it just keeps getting out of hand, and they develop some kind of emotional entanglements. Soon, sometimes it becomes an obsession that leads to dangerous consequences. I kept seeing many instances like this on TV, news channels, etc. A famous case happened in South India about a few years ago where a guy, after getting in touch with a girl on social media, went to the extent of becoming so dangerous that he wanted to eliminate everyone who was between them.

Q. What made you title the film Saaree?

A. It’s a very different title! No one must have thought that there’s a film titled Saaree coming up. The title came for two reasons; one is, when this stalker sees this girl, she is in a saree. For some time, he didn’t know her name, so he kept referring to her as the girl in the saree. The second reason is that saree is a traditional attire. Whenever violence happens against women, we hear people saying that she was probably wearing provocative clothes. In that context, the saree is the most unprovocative attire, if you look at it. But despite that, this happened to her. So, I thought to combine these two factors and call the film Saaree. 

Q.  In the last few years, you have mainly worked with newcomers. So, why don’t you approach a star either from the Hindi or South industry, because having a popular name would attract more audiences?

A. My point has always been that casting should be dependent upon the kind of subject matter you’re doing. Most of the time in my career, I have followed that. When I made Satya, I mostly took all the newcomers because I thought it would give authenticity and believability. In Company, I took Ajay (Devgn), because in that film, I didn’t need to establish the character of Malik. Whereas I thought that Vivek, as a newcomer playing the role of his protégé, would do justice. Right now, I am doing a horror-comedy with Manoj Bajpayee and Genelia Deshmukh, so I think casting depends a lot on the kind of subject matter.

Q. Saaree received mixed reviews from the critics. So, after being in the industry for more than 40 years, do you still feel bad when a movie doesn’t receive a good response?

A. I think, especially because I’ve been for a long time, I have stopped feeling bad or good about anything. I have realised it’s a part of being in the industry.

Q. A lot of times, it happens that when a film doesn’t do well at the box office, later when it is released on OTT, it receives a good response. So, do you think that it helps a filmmaker?

A. Definitely! If you look at it today, most of the foreign films or maybe other language films, you don’t even know when it was released, but years later, you discover that film. So, I think it’s a great opportunity for any filmmaker, not only me. OTT platforms are the biggest advantage for both filmmakers and audiences. For the audience, it gives them enough time to discover whatever they might like, irrespective of when it was released in the theaters.

Q. But, you know, recently Aamir Khan decided not to sell Sitaare Zameen Par to any of the OTT platforms before the theatrical release of the film, as he wanted the audience to come to theatres and watch the film. So, what do you have to say about it?

A. The bottom line is that it depends on the size of the film, the budget, and also the person who’s making it. Aamir is well-established both as a star and as a filmmaker. He has been in the business for many years. He is trying out something new, so let’s wait and watch. Anytime someone does something new, we’ll have to wait and watch exactly how it pans out. 

Q. You have made some amazing Hindi films like Rangeela, Bhoot, and others. But, from the past few years, why are you making such less Hindi movies?

A. Yeah! But, right now, I am about to start this film with Manoj Bajpayee and Genelia Deshmukh. Like I said, it’s a horror comedy called Police Station Me Bhoot, and after that, I’m making another film called Syndicate. Both of them will be coming within eight months or so. 

Q. Nowadays, franchise films are doing very well at the box office. So, do you plan to make Sarkar 4, or maybe a spin-off on Bhiku Mhatre?

A. I’m not very sure (about sequels). I think the three Sarkars are enough. I don’t think I’ll get into that. Even Bhiku Mhatre is dead., But I definitely would like to visit the gangster genre once again.