Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has taken to social media to address the ongoing issue of film piracy.
Highlighting the Roots of Piracy
The director of ‘Sarkar’ attributed the rising problem to both the providers of these pirated movies and those who support them. He shared his thoughts on X (formerly known as Twitter), stating, “ROBIN HOOD RAVI…Piracy will never stop. Not because technology is too advanced or policing too weak, but because as long as there are a large number of people to watch a pirated film, there will always be Ravis to serve them. Now the funniest thing is Ravi supporters proudly comparing him to Robin Hood as if they discovered some Nobel Prize winning logic. (sic)”
Rethinking Robin Hood
Varma expressed strong opinions about the romanticism surrounding Robin Hood. He asserted, “First of all, Robin Hood is not a hero. Going by today’s definitions he’s the world’s first recorded terrorist. He loots and kills the haves to give to the have-nots, and the only crime of the rich is that they are rich. Imagine how depraved one is to think being financially successful is a crime punishable by theft and murder. It takes tonnes of ignorance to romanticize a criminal as a saint simply because the recipients are getting stolen goods for free.”
Questioning Convenience
He further criticized those who justify piracy by pointing out the high costs of movie tickets. “Those who say watching movies is expensive should also advocate for robbing BMW showrooms and distributing them among people for free. This kind of thinking will lead to social collapse, leading to anarchy. People watch pirated content not because of some moral revolution but mainly because of convenience,” Varma explained.
A Proposed Solution
Varma also offered a solution to combat piracy. He suggested, “Apart from criminalising the supplier, they should also criminalise the viewer. Because catching the pirate is difficult—he’s hiding behind secretive digital ghettos. But catching the viewer is easy.”
He concluded with a bold proposal: “Arrest a hundred random people watching pirated content and publicise their names.”
This commentary sheds light on the complexities of film piracy and calls for a proactive approach to tackle the issue.