Online ratings run into court hurdle after Chiranjeevi film

The concern is not criticism itself, which is legitimate, but distorted market signalling

- Lata Jha

The court order is intended to pause or neutralize misleading signals.

(ISTOCKPHOTO)

A recent court order to restrict ratings and reviews on online ticketing platforms for Telugu star Chiranjeevi’s latest film, Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu, has reopened a debate over whether online feedback mechanisms are shaping audience opinion or distorting it.

The move, aimed at platforms such as BookMyShow, signals the need for preventive protection at the most commercially sensitive moment in a movie's life—just before or immediately after it is released.

“For movies, especially big-ticket releases, early ratings on ticketing and aggregation platforms can directly influence footfall, distributor confidence, and box office performance,” said Sudhir Raja Ravindran, attorney-at-law, solicitor (England & Wales), Altacit Global.

The concern is not criticism itself, which is legitimate, but distorted market signalling. When ratings are driven by non-viewers or organized campaigns, they cease to reflect consumer opinion and instead function as a form of reputational interference.