Ram Gopal Varma calls Obsession ‘reset the button’ for theatrical cinema: “Every woman has a little bit of Nikki in her”

Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has expressed his admiration for the independent thriller "Obsession," directed by Curry Barker. He praised not only the film's box office success but also the way it was made. On June 7, he shared a few posts on social media, explaining why he thinks the movie has resonated with so many people and how it has changed some old ideas about what makes a movie worth watching in a theater.

Sharing his thoughts on the film’s success, Varma wrote, "My theory on the tremendous success of OBSESSION / Every woman has a little bit of NIKKI in her, which she too knows / Every man sees a little bit of NIKKI in his woman / Hence the CONNECT."

He explained that "Obsession" has challenged the belief that only big name stars and expensive productions can make a movie successful.

 "Am OBSESSED with OBSESSION," he wrote, adding that the film has "reset that BUTTON" for an industry that has become used to big-budget movies.

Varma highlighted the film’s simple approach.

 It was made without major stars, big production design, exotic locations, or expensive special effects. He noted, "No BIG STARS No GRAND LOCATIONS No LAVISH PRODUCTION DESIGN No FOREIGN SHOOTS No TOP TECHNICIANS," pointing out that most of the story takes place in just a few locations.

He was especially impressed by Barker’s visual and editing style.

 He described it as "visually simplistic but very unique," praising how the use of extra space in some frames and the editing helped build psychological tension.

" He treats editing not just as a technical craft but as a psychological weapon blending rapid cuts with especially lengthy stays," Varma wrote.

 He specifically pointed to a long shot of Nikki’s face during the interval sequence, saying that such moments create "unbearable tension" by trapping viewers in the character’s emotional state.

Varma also praised the film’s sound design and the way it breaks traditional editing rules.

 According to him, Barker uses a style that feels chaotic and unpredictable. "The result is a film that feels unpredictable and alive, like the editing itself is also a part of the horror," he noted.

He compared Barker’s lighting style to that of acclaimed director David Fincher, suggesting that "Obsession" uses the technique even more effectively.

 He concluded by saying that beyond the film’s impressive box office success, its editing, sound design, and character development are worth paying close attention to.

In another post, Varma shared a clip from his 1999 thriller "Kaun," starring Urmila Matondkar.

 He wrote, "I remembered this shot of Urmila from KAUN after watching OBSESSION."

"Obsession," written, directed, and edited by Curry Barker, follows Bear, played by Michael Johnston, a lonely music store employee who is deeply in love with his childhood friend and co-worker Nikki, portrayed by Inde Navarrette.

 Despite its modest scale, the film has become a major success story, drawing a lot of attention from audiences around the world.