Ram Gopal Varma is an Indian film director, screenwriter, playback singer, and producer, known for his works in Telugu cinema and Bollywood.He directed films across multiple genres, including parallel cinema and docudrama noted for their gritty realism, technical finesse, and craft. In 1999, he has garnered the National Film Award for scripting, political drama, Shool - "For unveiling the complete collapse of the socio-political system. A very effective portrayal of the determined fight of a single citizen in the centre of a facade of democracy", as cited by the Jury.