Renowned filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj’s latest crime thriller, ‘O’Romeo’, has found itself at the center of a unique cinematic milestone. Released in theatres on February 13, the film has become the first Hindi production to have its audience ratings and reviews completely disabled on the popular ticketing platform BookMyShow.
Why Were the Ratings Removed?
Visitors to the film’s BookMyShow page are now greeted with a specific disclaimer: “Reviews and ratings disabled as per court order.” According to media reports, the filmmakers sought legal intervention to curb “organized negative campaigns” and “review bombing” that often target high-profile releases. This move is seen as a strategic step to protect the film’s reputation and box office potential from malicious online trends.
The Rating Rollercoaster
Before the ratings were taken down, the film’s reception on the platform was fluctuating:
- Debut Rating: The film started with a score of 6.8.
- Improvement: By Saturday, the rating had risen to 7.0.
- Current Status: All numerical scores and written reviews have been wiped from the page. However, the platform still shows that over 1,25,000 users have expressed interest in the movie.
About the Film: Cast and Plot
Set against the gritty backdrop of the 1990s, ‘O’Romeo’ is inspired by a chapter from author Hussain Zaidi’s famous book, Mafia Queens of Mumbai.
- Lead Stars: Shahid Kapoor and Triptii Dimri.
- Supporting Cast: Vikrant Massey, Tamannaah Bhatia, Avinash Tiwary, Disha Patani, and Nana Patekar.
- The Story: The plot follows Ustara (Shahid Kapoor), a contract killer who falls in love with Afsha (Triptii Dimri). Afsha is on a mission of vengeance against a dreaded gangster named Jalal (Avinash Tiwary) for the murder of her husband.
A Growing Trend in Cinema?
While this is a first for Bollywood, a similar incident occurred in the Telugu film industry (Tollywood) just last month. Ratings for Chiranjeevi’s Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu were disabled on BookMyShow prior to its January release to prevent “malicious ratings.”
Industry experts suggest that this court-ordered move could set a major precedent for Indian cinema. It offers a new shield for producers against digital sabotage, ensuring that a film’s success is determined by genuine theater-goers rather than organized online bots or trolls.