Kunal Kamra, the stand-up comedian at the center of controversy after his jokes against Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, has demanded that the ticketing portal BookMyShow hand over the contact information of the audiences who attended his shows. The portal, which had removed Kamra’s content and delisted him due to the row, has now been called out by the comedian for controlling access to his audience.
Kamra posted an open letter on X (formerly Twitter) addressing BookMyShow, expressing understanding of the platform’s need to maintain good relations with the state government. He acknowledged that events like Coldplay and Guns N’ Roses concerts depend on such cooperation. However, Kamra criticised the ticketing platform’s exclusive right to list shows, pointing out that it has blocked artists like him from directly reaching their audience. The comedian said that he has been performing since 2017, and now, he no longer has access to his audience due to the delisting.
How the Controversy Erupted
The controversy erupted when Kamra performed a parody of the popular Bollywood song “Bholi Si Surat” at a Mumbai comedy show, targeting Shinde and referring to him as a “gaddar” (traitor). This angered Shinde’s supporters, leading to the vandalisation of the Habitat studio, where the show was held. This venue, popular among stand-up comedians, was later shut down, with some speculating that the action was tied to Kamra’s performance. Kamra, who skipped three summons, has been granted interim protection from arrest by the Madras High Court.
In his letter, Kamra also highlighted the business model of BookMyShow, which takes a 10% cut from ticket sales. He argued that comedians, regardless of their fame, end up spending significant amounts between Rs 6,000 to Rs 10,000 on advertising to reach their own audience. This additional burden, according to Kamra, is a challenge for solo artists like him.
Kamra Demands Audience Data or Reinstatement from BookMyShow
Kamra’s letter ended with a simple request: either reinstate him on the platform or provide him with the contact details of his audience from the shows he performed. He stressed that as a solo artist, he should be entitled to the data generated through his performances. He also noted that while BookMyShow might raise concerns about data protection, the issue of who controls the data is far more complex and requires broader discussion.
Earlier, Shiv Sena leader Rahool Kanal had urged BookMyShow to remove Kamra’s content, calling it a move to protect the platform from controversial figures. After the delisting, Kanal thanked BookMyShow for keeping such artists off the platform, asserting that while Mumbaikars love art, they don’t support personal agendas.
