Stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra has written an open letter to ticketing giant BookMyShow, requesting access to the contact information of audiences who attended his solo shows, days after the platform removed his content and delisted him amid political controversy.
In the letter posted on X (formerly Twitter), Kamra acknowledged the platform’s commercial and political realities, saying he understands BookMyShow’s need to “maintain a cordial relationship with the state”, particularly in Mumbai, a hub for major entertainment events.
“Without the state’s cooperation, iconic shows like Coldplay and Guns N’ Roses wouldn’t be possible,” Kamra wrote, but added that his primary concern was not the delisting itself, but the exclusivity BookMyShow retains over show listings and associated audience data.
Kamra said the ticketing platform’s business model, which takes a 10% commission, forces comedians to invest heavily in advertising to reach their own audiences. “We are all compelled to spend between ₹6,000 to ₹10,000 a day on advertising,” he wrote. “This cost is an additional burden that we, as artists, must bear.”
He argued that since the audiences attended solo shows performed solely by him, the data generated through those events belongs to him and should be handed over if he is no longer allowed to list on the platform.
"As a solo artist, especially in the world of comedy, we are both the show and the production,” Kamra wrote. “The least I deserve, should you choose to delist me, is access to my audience."
The comic’s content was removed shortly after his performance at Mumbai’s Habitat studio, where he sang a parody of the Bollywood song Bholi Si Surat, in which he referred to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde as a gaddar (traitor).
The lyric appeared to mock Shinde’s 2022 rebellion that split the Shiv Sena and brought down the Uddhav Thackeray-led government.
Following the performance, supporters of Mr Shinde vandalised the Habitat studio. Though the studio claimed it had no control over the content presented on stage, parts of the premises were demolished the next day by civic authorities citing building violations — a move that raised suspicions of political retaliation.
Several police cases have been filed against Kamra, who has missed three summons. The Madras High Court has granted him interim protection from arrest.
BookMyShow, in response to the controversy, issued a statement asserting that it is a neutral platform. “Our role is to provide a platform for ticket sales of live shows.
It is the decision of the organiser or the venue to list or delist their shows,” said the platform, operated by Bigtree Entertainment Pvt Ltd.
However, Kamra contended that BookMyShow’s grip on the live entertainment ecosystem limits the options for independent artistes.
He said the platform’s control over listing creates barriers that prevent comedians like him from accessing their own audiences, especially when alternative platforms or personal websites are not allowed to list ticket sales independently.
In his letter, Kamra asked for one of two outcomes: either not to be delisted or to be granted access to the contact data collected through the platform. While acknowledging the data protection concerns that BookMyShow may raise, he argued that the broader conversation lies in “who protects what data, and from whom.”
The issue has since taken a political turn, with Sena leader Rahool Kanal — who was among those arrested for vandalising the Habitat studio — thanking BookMyShow for delisting Kamra.
“Thank you for keeping your portal clean,” Kanal said on social media, adding that Mumbai supports all forms of art “but not personal agendas”.
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