Ram Gopal Varma: `I don`t believe in the importance of a script`

The well-renowned filmmaker known for changing the course of Indian cinema with his raw, hard-hitting films, Ram Gopal Varma recently featured on Komal Nahta’s Game Changers podcast. The director spoke about his journey from being an engineer to becoming a filmmaker, his love for experimenting with new genres and how he doesn’t believe in having a bound script.

Ram Gopal Varma on working without script

In an insightful conversation with Komal Nahta, when Ram Gopal Varma was asked about his spontaneity on the idea of making a film without a script in place. Varma said, “See, if you take the example of Satya, there was no script at all. I have some kind of guts, like- let`s start shooting, and we kept changing the scenes in between shoots,” Varma revealed. Emphasizing on why he doesn’t believe in writing a script, and improvising fresh ideas, he said, “Honestly, I don`t believe in the importance of a script.” 

Commenting on his style of filmmaking, Ram Gopal Varma spoke about the risks and challenges one faces when he follows this style of filmmaking. The filmmaker said, “I`ll tell you something that could have gone very wrong in Satya, but it went right, that`s a different story. Kallu Mama holds a gun to Satya when Satya comes running away. I suddenly thought, and was thinking of killing the Chandrakant Mule, that`s Makarand Deshpande`s character. I called Makarand, “Makarand, where are you?” He said, “Sir, I`m at home.” So, I said, “Why don`t you come to the set? I`m thinking of killing your character in this scene.” So, he came, and the camera rolled, and the scene was shot.” 

Downside of RGV`s filmmaking style

The director spoke about the downsides of his style of filmmaking. Working without a bound script can go wrong. The director cited an example of how Satya may have been a very different film if luck was not in his side. Ram Gopal Varma said, ”If Makarand was on another shoot that day, it`s possible that I wouldn`t have been able to do that scene.”

The entire episode of Komal Nahta’s Game Changers podcast with Ram Gopal Varma is a true masterclass and a deep dive in filmmaking. Script selection, new age marketing, the differences in OTT and Cinema and many more such topics were discussed with great depth and insights.