In the past, several films have faced fake low ratings on BookMyShow, often driven by bots or rival groups, especially when multiple movies released at the same time. Even films of top Telugu stars were not spared. To stop this, BookMyShow earlier changed its system so that only people who bought tickets could rate a film. Still, some misuse continued.
For Chiranjeevi’s Mana Shankara Varaprasad Garu, the makers took an unusual and bold step. They approached the court and legally got ratings and reviews disabled on ticket booking platforms. Audiences can still book tickets, but they cannot view or post ratings on BookMyShow.
The producers believe the film was being deliberately targeted with coordinated negative ratings by non genuine users. Such digital attacks can harm a film’s box office prospects even before regular audiences get a chance to watch it. To prevent this, companies BlockBIGG and Aiplex secured court orders to temporarily block reviews. This is being seen as a first of its kind move in the Telugu film industry. If this strategy works, more filmmakers may choose to disable ratings and reviews to protect their movies from digital misuse. Many expect more films to follow this tactic, especially for big budget movies.
However, the move has also raised doubts among audiences. Many viewers feel that disabling ratings creates the impression that the makers are afraid of negative feedback. To them, it looks like an attempt to control public opinion instead of letting the film speak for itself. Some argue that rather than focusing on content, filmmakers are relying on such tactics.
There is also a hard truth the industry cannot ignore. If a film is weak, no court order or technical block can stop backlash. Reviews will still spread through YouTube, Instagram, X, WhatsApp, and simple word of mouth. Blocking one platform does not stop public discussion.
In the end, disabling ratings may stop fake negativity for a short time, but it can also create doubts. Only good content can truly protect a film. If audiences like a movie, they will support it on their own. If they do not, no system can hide that reality.
