Ram Gopal Varma (7 April, 1962) is an Indian film director, writer and film producer. He is from Andhra Pradesh. Popular for his slick, grisly films and his penchant for horror and mafia. Owns a production house which churns out good number of bollywood films every year, despite their lukewarm success. His most successful movies include Rangeela, Satya , Shiva and Company.

Early Years

Ram Gopal Varma was born in Vijayawada to Krishnamraju and Suryamma. He did his Engineering from Siddhartha Engineering College, Vijayawada before taking up a career as the owner of a Video Shop and then turned to become India's leading Film Director. He was an average student. Not that regular to the college, he was known to be a movie buff during his graduation days and used to dissect the movies from a movie maker's point of view through repeatitive viewing.

Career

Ram Gopal Varma started his film career as assistant director for the films 'Raogarillu' and 'Collector gari Abbai' produced by S.S.Creations despite his less-to-nothing contribution. Ram Gopal Varma made a mark on Indian Cinema with Telugu movie Shiva, a violent drama with college backdrop. At an age of 28, with no film background and training, he was able to convince Nagarjuna, a Tollywood star to do the movie. Nagarjuna liked his way of narration and produced the movie himself. 'Shiva' had a lasting impact on Telugu cinema and was remade in Hindi with the same name, but was not able to repeat the same commercial success as that of Telugu version.

His later movies 'Kshana kshanam' (loosly based on Hollywood flick Romancing the stone with Venkatesh and Sree devi in lead), 'Raatri' (a bilingual spooky movie with Revathi in lead), 'Antham' (another bilingaul criminal-cop movie with Nagarjuna and Urmila Matondkar in lead, all failed to repeat the commercial success of 'Shiva'. 'Govinda Govinda' (with Nagarjuna and Sree devi in lead) became controversial because of a scene where the villian steps on the palm of Lord Venkateshwara to steal the diamond studded crown. Indian censor board asked him to delete this scene. Despite the hype it generated, the movie became a dud at boxoffice.

'Gaayam' with Jagapathi Babu and Urmila Matondkar, another violent movie dealing with underworld, was his next release. The screenplay was provided by popular Tamil movie director Mani Ratnam. It fared well in cities. He repeated Urmila Matondkar in many of his movies with rumours abound about their relationship.

He started his own banner Varma corporation limited and produced Telugu movies like 'Money', 'Money Money', 'Gulabi', 'Wife of Mr. Vara Prasad', 'Anaganaga oka roju', 'Deyyam' (the last two directed by Ram Gopal Varma himself). His assistant directories Krishna vamsi , Shiva Naageshwar Rao and Teja who worked as cinematographer for his movies, later became big names in Tollywood.

While popular Hindi Cinema were either over the top and unrealistic action films or glamorous love stories, his movies were more deep and realistic. Not that Indian Cinema has ever tried realism but he is credited for creating his niche within the commercial and popular market.

His foray into Hindi cinema (Bollywood as it is commonly called) started with a huge commercial success Rangeela. Urmila Matondkar became a big star in Bollywood overnight. A.R. Rahman,a popular music composer started his career in Hindi cinema with this movie. Then a dud called 'Daud' followed 'Rangeela'.

Satya was ground breaking movie from Ramu. Made with a shoe string budget and non-stars, this movie gave life to many actors and technicians, cheifly Manoj Bajpai , Chakravarthy, Makrand Deshpande, Anurag Kashyap (provided the dialogue and story) and Sandeep Chowta (background music composer). This critically acclaimed movie spawned many imitations in Bollywood. Some critics bashed Ramu for glorifying Mafia and the violent nature of the movie.

He cut out song and dance sequences, commonplace in Bollywood,so as not to interrupt with the flow of the narration with movies like 'Kaun','Bhoot' and Company. He is very particular about the background scores and for a long time collaborated with composer Sandeep Chowta.

Ram Gopal Varma in almost all his films has found time to criticise the popular film fraternity - either their style or the personalities. He does it with sarcastic humor. His films almost always deal with the contemporary and are urbane. The scheme is mostly set in the city of Mumbai, however, the scope is allowed to expand as per the story. Critics say, his movies don’t just sketch a macro perspective but go deeper into the minds of the protagonists attempting to uncover their motivations.

His latest release Naach which Ram Gopal Varma called his best film yet (which he does after making almost all his movies) dealt with the relationship between an idealistic choreographer who wants to stamp her identity in the film world and an ambitious actor who wants to make it big. The film did not do well commercially. In a recent interview with the Indian Express newspaper the film maker said, "I think I tried too hard with Naach. I gave Ayn Rand to a Municipal School."

His next film is Sarkar that is scheduled to release in June 2005. The film has the father-son duo Amitabh Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan playing a father-son role in the film. Varma has said that the film is adapted from The Godfather, which he feels was basically about patriarchy and pride. The film he places in the context of politics with Amitabh Bachchan playing the character Sarkar who is a self righteous politician.

He produces films at a speed that is unfamiliar to Indian Film Industry and named his office The Factory. His production company makes several films directed by other film makers he picks.

He is considered by wannabes as a Kingmaker for his habit of picking new talent for his movies whose careers have eventually sky rocketed. These include actors like Manoj Bajpai , Aftab Shivdasani, Vivek Oberoi, Rajpal Yadav. Ram Gopal Varma through interviews suggests that he is not a generous person and picks new talent for selfish motives. He does not respect any film awards sponsored by film trade magazines and never attends award functions.

Awards and Nominations

Ram Gopal Varma has won Nandi award (Awards given by Government of Andhra Pradesh yearly once) twice as best director for his movies Shiva and Kshanakshanam . He has won Film fare (critics) award as best director for Satya.

Filmography - Director

• Sarkar (2005) (filming)
• Naach (2004)
• Bhoot (2003)
• Company (2002)
• Jungle (2000)
• Mast (1999)
• Kaun (1999)
• Prema Katha (1999)
• Satya (1998)
• Daud (1997)
• Anaganaga Oka Roju (1997)
• Deyyam (1996)
• Great Robbery (1996)
• Rangeela (1995)
• Govindha Govindha (1993)
• Gaayam (1993)
• Drohi (1992)
• Antam (1992)
• Raat (1992)
• Kshana Kshanam (1991)
• Shiva (1990)

Filmography - Producer

• Sarkar (2005) (filming) (producer)
• My Wife's Murder (2005) (post-production) (producer)
• Naach (2004) (co-producer)
• Vaastu Shastra (2004) (producer)
• Gayab (2004) (producer)
• Ab Tak Chappan (2004) (producer)
• Ek Hasina Thi (2004) (executive producer)
• Main Madhuri Dixit Banna Chahti Hoon (2003) (producer)
• Darna Mana Hai (2003) (producer)
• Bhoot (2003) (producer)
• Road (2002) (executive producer) (producer)
• Company (2002) (producer)
• Love Ke Liye Kuchh Bhi Karega (2001) (producer)
• Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya (2001) (producer)
• Shool (1999) (producer)
• Mast (1999) (producer)
• Dil Se.. (1998) (executive producer)
• Satya (1998) (producer)
• W/O V.Varaprasad (1998) (producer)
• Daud (1997) (producer)
• Deyyam (1996) (producer)
• Gulabi (1996) (producer)
• Rangeela (1995) (producer)
• Money Money (1995) (producer)
• Gaayam (1993) (producer)
• Money (1993) (producer)
• Antam (1992) (producer)
• Raat (1992) (producer)

External links

• Ram Gopal Varma at the Internet Movie Database
• Director Ram Gopal Varma::The Master Technician of Indian Cinema::Exclusive Page for his Fans-by Kiran Kumar K