In the wake of the arrest of Immadhi Ravi, the founder of the piracy website iBomma, filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma (RGV) has ignited a fresh debate regarding piracy and its potential solutions. Ravi was apprehended by Hyderabad Police for allegedly sharing illegal copies of numerous Telugu films online. While many in the film industry are celebrating the arrest as a major breakthrough, some subscribers have voiced their support for Ravi, drawing comparisons to Robin Hood.
Varma has strongly criticized those who have labeled Ravi a "Robin Hood," calling the comparison "flawed and misleading". He argued that such romanticization of an illegal act, simply because some consumers are getting free content, is "mass ignorance" and has nothing to do with social justice. Varma stated that glorifying someone who shares stolen goods, whether digitally or not, sets a dangerous moral precedent. He further added that by today's standards, Robin Hood would be considered a terrorist, looting and killing the wealthy simply because they are wealthy.
RGV also addressed justifications for piracy, such as high movie ticket prices, expensive popcorn, and costly OTT subscriptions. He likened this rationale to justifying stealing luxury cars or jewelry because they are unaffordable. He believes such logic leads to a socially disorderly society where theft is branded as a public service.
Varma argues that piracy persists not because of advanced technology or weak policing, but because of the large audience for pirated content. He pointed out that people often view pirated content for convenience, accessibility, and because it is free. He even admitted that some within the film industry, including himself, have watched pirated films to save time.
To combat piracy, Varma proposes a controversial solution: criminalizing the viewer. He suggests that in addition to penalizing the supplier, the viewer should also face legal consequences. According to Varma, catching the "pirate" is difficult due to their anonymity in "secretive digital ghettos," but catching the viewer is easy. He proposed arresting 100 random people watching pirated content and publicizing their names to instill fear, which he believes is the only deterrent, as "fear works, morality doesn't".
Varma's comments have sparked considerable debate online, with some supporting his stance and others criticizing it. His suggestion to criminalize viewers has been met with mixed reactions, raising questions about its practicality and ethical implications. While the film industry largely celebrates Ravi's arrest, Varma's perspective highlights the complexities of the piracy issue and the need for comprehensive solutions that address both the supply and demand sides of the problem.
