Upon its release in May 2014, Mastram received mixed to positive reviews. Critics praised its unique subject matter and its refusal to be a "C-grade" film despite the subject. It was lauded for being a "brave" attempt to document a subculture that millions of Indians participated in but no one talked about.

: Faced with financial pressure and a suggestion to write "masaledar" (spiced up) stories, he begins writing steamy tales under the pen name Mastram .