Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: Stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra has penned an open letter to ticketing platform BookMyShow following its decision to delist his content and remove his name from its roster of performers. The move comes amid controversy surrounding a satirical performance that referenced Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
In his letter shared on X, Kamra acknowledged the commercial and political constraints platforms like BookMyShow face. “I understand that you need to maintain a cordial relationship with the state, especially in a hub like Mumbai where major events depend on government cooperation,” he wrote.
However, Kamra pointed out that BookMyShow holds exclusive rights to ticket listings, thereby restricting artists from reaching their own audiences through personal channels. “By not allowing artists to list shows on their own websites, you’ve effectively blocked my access to the audience I’ve built from 2017 to 2025,” he stated.
The delisting followed outrage over a parody Kamra performed at Habitat Studio in Mumbai, where he sang altered lyrics to the song “Bholi Si Surat” that referred to Shinde as a “gaddar” (traitor)—a term popularized by Uddhav Thackeray after Shinde’s rebellion split the Shiv Sena in 2022.
In retaliation, Shinde’s supporters allegedly vandalized the Habitat venue. The studio was later partially demolished by civic authorities, officially for building violations, though the timing raised suspicions of political retribution. Kamra now faces multiple legal cases and has skipped three summons; however, he currently has interim protection from arrest granted by the Madras High Court.
Kamra’s letter requested BookMyShow to share contact details of his solo show audiences to help him sustain his livelihood. “As solo artists, we are the show and the production. At the very least, I deserve access to the audience I built through my solo shows,” he wrote. “If I performed at the Pune Comedy Festival, that would be collective data. But my solo acts? That’s my audience.”
Highlighting the platform’s business model, he noted, “You charge a 10% commission, and comedians spend up to Rs 10,000 per day on promotions. It’s a steep cost for independent performers.”
He concluded by offering BookMyShow two options: “Either do not delist me or provide the data generated from my audience.”
Kamra also touched upon data privacy concerns, stating that while platforms may cite data protection, the broader question remains about who protects what data—and from whom.
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena leader Rahool Kanal, who had urged BookMyShow to take Kamra off its platform, thanked the company for the delisting. Kanal, one of 12 leaders arrested in the vandalism case, stated, “Thank you for keeping your portal clean. We support art, not personal agendas.”
