RGV Slams Film Piracy: Viewers Are Criminals Too

Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has vehemently spoken out against film piracy, targeting both its providers and consumers. He dismissed any notion that pirates are heroic figures, unequivocally stating that all forms of piracy are criminal acts. Varma attributed the enduring problem to the individuals who supply pirated movies and those who support them by watching.

Varma challenged the romanticized view of pirates, likening them to terrorists by today's standards. He argued that equating financial success with a crime punishable by theft is a sign of profound ignorance. The director pointed out that convenience, rather than any moral revolution, is the primary driver for people watching pirated content, and suggested a parallel to robbing businesses and distributing goods for free.

To combat piracy, Varma proposed a dual approach: criminalizing suppliers and viewers alike. He noted that while suppliers hide behind digital anonymity, viewers are easily identifiable. By arresting and publicizing the names of even a hundred random individuals caught watching pirated content, he believes piracy can be effectively curbed, addressing the issue at its source.