Indian Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma Turns to AI-Generated Music, Leaving Human Musicians Behind

Indian filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma is making a bold shift from traditional musicians to artificial intelligence, announcing that future projects will feature exclusively AI-generated music. This significant move highlights the expanding influence of AI in creative fields.

Varma, renowned for his acclaimed Bollywood films like “Company,” “Rangeela,” “Sarkar,” and “Satya,” has launched RGV Den Music, dedicated solely to producing tracks using AI applications such as Suno and Udio. He announced that every project going forward, including his latest film "Saree," will feature music created entirely by AI.

In a recent interview, Varma encouraged artists to adapt to AI rather than resist it. “Ultimately, the music stems from your ideas. You must have a clear vision of what you want the app to create; your taste will be what truly matters,” he explained.

His initiative arrives amid the growing integration of AI in the creative sector, sparking both excitement about innovative possibilities and concerns regarding potential job losses. Esteemed directors, including Oscar winner Christopher Nolan, have expressed caution about an overreliance on AI, emphasizing that human intuition remains irreplaceable in artistic endeavors.

India is a powerhouse in film production, releasing between 1,500 and 2,000 movies annually, complemented by a vibrant music industry that generates around 20,000 to 25,000 songs each year.

Varma criticized traditional composers for frequently missing deadlines and facing scheduling conflicts, while also noting that lyricists often fail to capture the essence of songs. He argues that these human challenges can hinder the creative workflow, rendering music production both time-consuming and expensive. He believes that AI offers instant results at virtually “zero cost.”

He predicts, “As these applications continue to evolve rapidly, human musicians, composers, lyricists, and singers may soon face significant repercussions and potentially become obsolete.”

In collaboration with startups Reclaim Protocol and Story Protocol, Varma is also working on securing the intellectual property of his AI-generated songs using cryptographic proofs. He mentioned that many of his filmmaker colleagues share his enthusiasm for AI, expecting the technology to increasingly transform the Indian film industry in the years ahead.