"I have stopped feeling bad or good...": Ram Gopal Varma doesn't feel anything about critics; reveals the deep meaning behind the title 'Saaree'

Ram Gopal Varma , the avant-garde filmmaker , has always stood firm on his decisions and is acclaimed for his work. While critics have expressed mixed reviews of his production’s latest release, ‘Saaree,’ the 63-year-old declared that he has stopped thinking about good or bad response, citing that criticism is a part of the industry.

Ram Gopal Varma's latest release 'Saaree'

In an interview with Free Press Journal , Varma was asked about the ideation and response of ‘Saaree,’ which was released in theatres quite a while ago and has now been released on OTT. When asked about how he came up with the idea for the film, the ‘Satya’ director said that he heard a lot of stories about social media connections that are formed without knowing each other’s backgrounds.

However, the connections can soon turn obsession and a dangerous entanglement. “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,” he said.

Why is the title 'Saaree'?

The title might be a word, but it has layers of meaning in it. Varma explained that the title ‘Saaree’ came up for two reasons: one, where the stalker sees the girl when she is in a saree, and the other refers to the provocative narrative of what the girl might be wearing. Certainly, in the context, the incident occurs despite the girl’s traditional attire.

"I have stopped feeling bad or good"

Furthermore, claiming that he doesn’t get worked up over the critics, RGV stated, “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.”

Ram Gopal Varma supports OTT platforms ...

Meanwhile, Varma praised OTT platforms, citing that it's an advantage to both filmmakers and audiences. “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,” he said, before adding, “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 theatres.”