iBomma, piracy and the myth of modern-day Robin Hood
Let’s not pretend the film industry is purely a victim. When actors charge astronomical fees and producers gamble with 200–300 crore budgets, who ultimately pays? The audience
By Venkat Parthasarathy
The recent arrest of iBomma founder Immadi Ravi has done more than just shut down a notorious piracy hub; it has exposed uncomfortable truths about modern-day youth, digital culture, and society at large. iBomma, along with its counterparts like Movierulz and Bappam, became a household name, ironically, not for innovation, but for stealing creativity and selling it back as free entertainment.
During the COVID-19 lockdown, the platform exploded in popularity. From teenagers to senior citizens, everyone flocked to these sites for instant access to the latest movies, no ticket prices, no waiting period, no guilt… or so they believed. But behind every “free” movie was a filmmaker’s investment worth crores, ripped and uploaded within hours, sometimes even before the theatrical release.
The Business of Stealing, And the Audience That Enabled It
While pirates profited from ad clicks, betting-site pop-ups, and shady data-sharing networks, it was the common viewer who quietly fueled the ecosystem. That’s the irony: piracy thrives not because of the criminals who upload, but because of the millions who consume.
What’s more troubling is the reaction to Ravi’s arrest. Many youngsters took to social media, hailing him as a “Robin Hood of Cinema”, a man who stole from rich producers to give free movies to the “poor.” But let’s be real: the viewers weren’t impoverished villagers. They were film lovers who could afford OTT subscriptions, theatre visits, and smartphones, yet chose to take the unethical shortcut in the name of “free entertainment.”
Yes, multiplex prices are high. Yes, popcorn sometimes costs more than the ticket. But choosing a pirated copy is not a protest; it’s participation in theft. One can always skip the overpriced snacks or wait for OTT releases. But the lure of immediate gratification, and “free” proved too tempting.
And so, when iBomma got blocked, the outrage wasn’t about freedom or fairness. It was about losing an entitlement that was never theirs to begin with.
The other side of the blame game: The Film Industry isn’t innocent Either
Let’s not pretend the film industry is purely a victim. When actors charge astronomical fees and producers gamble with 200–300 crore budgets, who ultimately pays? The audience.
Sky-high ticket prices didn’t come from nowhere. They’re often the result of:
• Exaggerated star salaries
• Inflated production budgets
• Aggressive marketing expectations
• Distributor costs
• Theatre overheads
In other words, a vicious cycle: Higher costs → Higher ticket prices → Audience frustration → Piracy demand → Industry losses → Repeat.
Who created the monster of the “100-crore actor”? And why is there no regulation or cap, even when the justification of “creative freedom” threatens affordability for the masses? Shouldn’t governments step in to ensure that movie-going remains accessible? After all, cinema is one of India’s largest cultural industries.
The Social Problem: Our Habit of Romanticising Crime
At the heart of this issue lies a cultural flaw: our tendency to glorify wrongdoing as long as it benefits us. Whether it’s downloading pirated movies, using cracked software, or bypassing subscription paywalls, many people participate while insisting they’re doing nothing wrong.
But piracy isn’t a victimless crime. If streaming a stolen version makes one part of the supply chain, isn’t the viewer also complicit?
We talk about catching the big fish, but what about the millions who feed the pond?
Where Are We Headed? Perhaps the iBomma saga is a wake-up call. Not just for the film industry or law enforcement, but for society. The real question is: Why do we crave what is prohibited only because it’s free? And why do we sanitise crime when we benefit from it?
We haven’t yet hit rock bottom. But we are inching closer to a culture where accountability disappears behind screens, and morality loses to convenience.
Maybe it’s time we stop blaming just the pirates.
Maybe the “freebie criminals” among us deserve a reality check, too.
