After the raging controversy over shows of Kannada films being wrong displayed as houseful turning away potential audience has surfaced again. Just weeks ago, films like Actor and Bhale Jodi faced the problem. Representatives of the multiplexes and ticket aggregators were called to the KFCC for a meeting and the issue seemed to be settled. But once agin, it is out in the open as another Kannada film, Suni directed Simpleag Innond Love Story (SILS) is facing a similar problem.

In the PVR multiplex in the Vaishnavi Sapphire Mall in Bengaluru, the 9.15 pm show tickets for today (Sunday) is available. But strangely, the same show for March 21, 22, 23 and 24th are all sold out! Nobody can book tickets when it is showing houseful. But in reality it is made to show as houseful. Then the film will be removed from this slot saying there are no audience! The same thing happened to other Kannada films last month. 

After the issue become controversial with Kannada films being the target, promises were made that it would not happen again. Technical glitches were also blamed. But Kannada film makers are certain that it is a ploy by some exhibitors to deliberately force out Kannada films from multiplex screens. SILS opened last week to good reviews and was picking up at the box office. It had mostly newcomers and Suni was the only big name. Multiplexes had agreed that Kannada films need some time to pick up and should not be removed within two weeks. But now once again a good Kannada film is facing a problem from unknonw hands. 

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Adding more woes to Kannada movies, the online booking platform Book My Show is yet again in news, and this time for another blunder it has committed. In an glaring mistake, BMS has uploaded the photo of Ms. Asha Rani, wife of Action King Arjun Sarja with the caption Nivedita, who is the actual leading actress in the movie Popcorn Monkey Tiger. 

That's not all, the website has yesteryear actress Rekha's photo in the place of actress Sparsha Rekha in the star cast slot for the Popcorn Monkey Tiger Kannada movie. After facing flak for its blunder, BMS has rectified its mistake by replacing the actual photos of the actresses who are casted in the Popcorn Monkey Tiger Kannada movie.

The BMS has been in the eye of storm with regard to Kannada movies in the recent past after a series of Kannada filmmakers accusing it of undermining Kannada movies. Several Kannada producers have openly complained against BMS for their deliberate act against their movies despite being rated high by the critics and the audience.

Some of them accuse that the online platform has been functioning at its own whims and fancies favoring only a few based on monetary purpose.

"Unfortunately several Kannada producers are hiring online promoters from Hyderabad, Chennai and Mumbai even for promotions within Karnataka, who lack passion or knowledge about Kannada film industry. All they do is copy paste data entry jobs in many instances," the experts say.

They add that the time has come for Kannada filmmakers to introspect on whether they are really benefiting from hiring online promoters from outside Karnataka.

After Dia and Gentleman, the sad state of affairs continues with Sagutha Doora Doora on BMS as the filmmaker raising strong objections too while asking the film body to intervene formulating a mechanism against such oppressive factors acting against the growth of Kannada movies.

Following speculations over malpractices regarding rigging of reviews, ratings and also votes for movies on its platform, the leading online advance ticketing platform - Book My Show, in an official statement made public on Saturday, has clarified that it has neither conspired or abetted, aided or induced in commission of any unlawful act by operating and conducting the reviews and ratings section on its platform with Sneha Mathews, Sabir Shimoga or any such individual.

It has made the statement after noticing that certain individuals in the market by the name Sneha Mathews, Sabir Shimoga are indulging in malpractices such as falsely charging producers for rigging reviews and rating of movies on its platform.

It further clarifies that reviews and rating system on its platform is an absolutely democratic process of garnering audience and critic's feedback in an effort to provide audience the best experience around watching their favourite films. It also urges the producers to contact only the authorised person of Book My Show for promotion of movie and not with anyone else.

The ticket booking site has issued tickets for Kotigobba2 instead of Jaguar for tomorrow's morning show at Santhosh theatre. Chitraloka booked the tickets for Thursday. Jaguar is releasing in many theatres in Bengaluru tomorrow including in Santhosh which is the main theater.

Kotigobba2 was being screened in the theatre till Wednesday.

Now Book My Show is not showing bookings for Thursday in Santosh. So which movie will audience get to watch tomorrow. Why is BMS creating this confusion.

We have no idea!

Chitraloka editor KM Veeresh is going to the theater with the ticket for Kotigobba2 

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After Actor Now Bookmyshow Targets SILS - Exclusive

Actor Back in Multiplexes

Book my show mistake has once again got proved. As everyone know Nikhil Gowda starring Jaguarr was is getting released at Bangalore Santosh theater from 6th. Chitraloka editor K M Veeresh was seeing Book my Show And interestingly found Kotigobba2 ticket is getting issued at Santosh Theater. Immediately KM Veeresh swiped the card and blocked 2 tickets for Kotigobba 2 for 6th October 10.30 show. Veeresh got the ticket for Kotigobba 2 by message and by mail. This was brought to the notice of Jaguar team and KFCC office bearers.

Today Veeresh, KFCC secretary MG Ramamurthy, Vice President Umesh Banakar, producers Teshi Venkatesh and Jagan went to Santhosh theater. When contacted Santhosh theater manager Ganesh told its completely mistake of Book my show. We had told them not the book any tickets for our theater till Friday. I don't know why they have done it. It's purely mistake of Book my show.

During this time Veeresh received message from book my show which is as follows

BMS Alert: Dear Customer, your 10:30AM show for "Kotigobba 2" on 6th Oct, 2016 at Santosh Theatre: Gandhinagar, has been cancelled due to technical reason. Your transaction amount will be refunded within 10 working days. Query? Call xxxxxx

What is the intension of Book My show for Kannada movies. They had literally killed Actor movie produced by KM Veeresh under the banner Chitraloka Movies. They had come to KFCC and had apologised for that. After that few more incidents had happened.

If u call and enquiry them they say sir it's technical mistake and it will not repeated again...

Chitraloka has taken this issue to KFCC and has given a complaint against the Book My Show. President Sa Ra Govindu called the concerned person from Book my show and they are coming to chamber today evening.

KM Veeresh and other producers have taken this issue seriously and going with legal.

After Chitraloka.com broke the news about how Book My Show has been given control over the entire ticketing and delegate passes for the 12th Bengaluru International Film Festival, there is action on the ground. 

Captain Manivannan, Secretary of the Information and Public Relations Department swung into action immediately and authorised BIFFes to even cancel the agreement with BMS. His instruction read, "@BIFFESBLR Plis send a report on this. 

BookMyShow Takes Over BIFFes Tickets - Exclusive

You are hereby authorised to cancel the agreement with 'Book My Show', within 24 hrs, in consultation with @SuneelPuranik. 

BMS was involved to make things easier for the public, and not create more complications."

Producers Paying Lakhs for Fake Ratings

Soon after this Suneel Puranik the chairperson of the Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy made a series of statements trying to set things right. He held a meeting immediately and also spoke to KFCC representatives. KFCC members had difficulty in getting regiatered for the festival. Puranik said that a help desk has been created at the KCA for them. 

KFCC Warns Book My Show On Fake Ratings

There will be no cash sale of passes. "With respect to cash sales, committee had taken a decision to avoid cash management & the same was communicated to @bookmyshow.To this effect, all paid registrations are only through online. 

Chitraloka Exposes Book My Show Mistake

Non-Paid registrations 

1. Data collection system has been set up at Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy, we are taking both physical forms and soft copy of the forms to process accreditation. 2. Media related issues are handled by agency. 

Committee has adopted this in the interest of making the film festival digital in years to come. As first phase, public registrations have been made digital," Puranik announced.

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BookMyShow Takes Over BIFFes Tickets - Exclusive

ಬುಕ್ ಮೈ ಶೋ ಗೋಲ್‍ಮಾಲ್ ವಿರುದ್ಧ ಸಿಡಿದೆದ್ದ ಚಿತ್ರರಂಗ

Book My Show Issues Statement On Rigging Reviews & Ratings Of Movies On Its Platform

Producers Paying Lakhs for Fake Ratings

ಬುಕ್ ಮೈ ಶೋ ವಿರುದ್ಧ ಸಿಡಿದೆದ್ದ ಕೆ.ಮಂಜು

KFCC Warns Book My Show On Fake Ratings

GST ಎಫೆಕ್ಟ್ - ಮಲ್ಟಿಪ್ಲೆಕ್ಸ್​ನಲ್ಲಿ ಟಿಕೆಟ್ ಬುಕ್ಕಿಂಗ್ ಇಲ್ಲ - ಗೊಂದಲವೋ ಗೊಂದಲ

Chitraloka Exposes Book My Show Mistake

Book My Show Issues Ticket for Kotigobba2 Instead of Jaguar At Santosh 

After Actor Now Bookmyshow Targets SILS - Exclusive

The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce has warned movie ticket booking website Book My Show about fake ratings of films. Book My Show representatives attended a meeting at KFCC yesterday and they were shown how ratings are being altered illegally. The ratings shows that it is by audience, but anyone can give a favourable or negative rating without even watching the film. Moreover, there are several people who are demanding money from producers to get favourable ratings for their films. Some producers allege that their films are being given negative ratings because they did not pay up. 

Speaking to Chitraloka KFCC president Sa Ra Govindu said "we have given some guidelines to Book My Show. Two major points we want addressed is that they have to stop giving ratings and voting option for our movies. BMS are only vendors and they cannot conduct the voting or ratings from the pubic. There is a lot of 'golmaal' going on in the name of BMS."

Govindu explained that producers are losing money to the fake rating racket. "Some people are taking money from producers and doing fake voting and giving fake ratings which is not good for the movie industry."

It may be recalled that Chitraloka Movies producer KM Veeresh started the fight against BMS from the movie Actor which enlightened other producers. Later K Manju, Manjunath (Jack Manju), Navarasan started raising their voice against the illegal ratings in BMS. BMS has sought time till November 28th for the final discussion with KFCC on the issue. 

It's been two days since the State Government ordered to temporarily close cinema theatres, malls amongst scores of other directions with regard to public gathering and events as preventive measures against the deadly virus - COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease).

However, the online ticketing portal - Book My Show seems to be functioning as usual with no concern or care to the order issued in public interest by the State Government. 

A day after Chitraloka exposed BMS for functioning as usual despite the one week ban on screening movies in the State, no action has been taken against it. More shockingly, Chitraloka learnt that BMS continued to operate as tickets for a Tamil Movie - Asura Guru in Mysuru's Rajkamal theatre got booked with confirmation for the morning show (10.15 am) on Sunday, 15 March. 

On Saturday, one ticket for Shivarjuna movie was booked for Rs 124.60 for 2.30 pm show in Robin theatre and whereas for Mayabazar movie the ticket costed Rs 142.60 for 4.30 on show in Triveni theater in Gandhinagar. Insofar as the Tamil movie, the ticket costed Rs. 151.96.

"Firstly, BMS has shown no respect to the State Government's order and secondly it has not shown any signs to mend itself. Like Chitraloka, there would be several thousands who would have booked tickets assuming that the screening of movies is back to normal. We have not received any refunds for the tickets booked on Saturday. What is the fate of such similar translations by the moviegoers since the screenings has been stopped for a week? Looks like all it (BMS) cares is for the money from moviegoers and not their safety and good health," said Chitraloka editor Mr  K M Veeresh.

He further adds that with still no refunds on the booked tickets, the State Government can easily find the transactions on account of GST payments.

The State Government should immediately take note of Book My Show's audacity to function despite the ban on movie screenings and should conduct an enquiry into it since it involves financial transactions, he adds.

Further, Mr. Veeresh said that he will be lodging a complaint with regard to the matter pertaining to BMS on Monday with both Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) and Producer's Association.

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Book My Show Caught Violating Govt's Order! - Exclusive

Actor-director Navarasan was recently upset with the Regional Board for Film Certification has given an 'A' certificate for the film. Now the actor-director is upset with Book My Show for not giving good reviews about the film.

Navarsan's latest film 'Vaira' was released last week across Karnataka. The actor is very much upset about the rating and review system for Kannada films in the website.

'My film got not only good opening, but also the reviews praised my film. In spite of that, we are getting lowest rating in Book My Show. Recently, I complained regarding this to the Regional Manager, but there was no use. To put a stop to this, we must start a new app like Tamil Nadu' says Navarasan.

Kannada film producers are paying lakhs of rupees to get fake ratings for their films online including in ticket booking sites. Recently Book My Show the popular ticket booking site blocked IP addresses that were posting fake reviews to boost the ratings of some films. But such fake promotions are continuing and some producers have paid lakhs of rupees for this. Book My Show is taking a strict stand against bots and such postings but producers continue to be cheated.

The cheating starts with some teams working as online film promoters. Film makers who do not have stars in their films are easily falling prey to them. With fake boosters and manipulated reach, the producers are asked to shell out money. In some cases they have told producers that Book My Show is to be blamed for removing fake reviews! Such is the extent of the manipulation.

Interestingly people who have come to this "business" have been around for a couple of years. People who have been in the film publicity business for decades are left wondering how easily producers are misguided and losing their money.

It now the time for KFCC to take look at this issue and take action.

ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ಅಂತಾರಾಷ್ಟ್ರೀಯ ಚಲನಚಿತ್ರೋತ್ಸವ ನಡೆಯುತ್ತಿರುವುದು ಗೊತ್ತಿದೆ ತಾನೇ. ಈ ಚಿತ್ರೋತ್ಸವ ಆಯೋಜಿಸಿರುವುದು ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಚಲನಚಿತ್ರ ಅಕಾಡೆಮಿ. ಸಹಭಾಗಿತ್ವ ವಹಿಸಿರುವುದು ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಚಲನಚಿತ್ರ ವಾಣಿಜ್ಯ ಮಂಡಳಿ ಮತ್ತು ಚಿತ್ರರಂಗದ ಇತರ ಸಂಘಟನೆಗಳು. ಆದರೆ, ಈ ಚಿತ್ರೋತ್ಸವದಲ್ಲಿ ಆಯೋಜಕರನ್ನೇ ಹೊರಗಿಟ್ಟು, ಬುಕ್ ಮೈ ಶೋಗೆ ಇಡೀ ಚಿತ್ರೋತ್ಸವದ ಉಸ್ತುವಾರಿ ವಹಿಸಲಾಗಿತ್ತು.

ನೀವು ಚಿತ್ರೋತ್ಸವಕ್ಕೆ ಹೋಗಿ ಸಿನಿಮಾ ನೋಡಬೇಕಾ..? ಪಾಸ್ ಬೇಕಾ..? ಟಿಕೆಟ್ ಬೇಕಾ..? ಎಲ್ಲದಕ್ಕೂ ಬುಕ್ ಮೈ ಶೋ ಪರ್ಮಿಷನ್ ತೆಗೆದುಕೊಳ್ಳುವಂತಾ ಪರಿಸ್ಥಿತಿ ಸೃಷ್ಟಿಯಾಗಿತ್ತು. ಮೊದಲೇ ಬುಕ್ ಮೈ ಶೋ ಕನ್ನಡ ಚಿತ್ರಗಳ ವಿರುದ್ಧ ಮಲತಾಯಿ ಧೋರಣೆ ಅನುಸರಿಸ್ತಾ ಇದೆ ಅನ್ನೋ ಆರೋಪ ಹೊತ್ತಿರೋ ಸಂಸ್ಥೆ. ಇನ್ನು ಬುಕ್ ಮೈ ಶೋನಲ್ಲಿ ಕನ್ನಡ ಸಿನಿಮಾ ರೇಟಿಂಗ್ಗೆ ಗೋಲ್ ಮಾಲ್ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿದೆ ಎಂಬ ಆರೋಪವೂ ಇದೆ. ಈ ಕುರಿತು ಫಿಲಂ ಚೇಂಬರ್ ಹಲವು ಬಾರಿ ನೋಟಿಸ್ ಕೊಟ್ಟಿದ್ದರೂ, ಹಲವು ನಿರ್ಮಾಪಕರು ದೂರು ನೀಡಿದ್ದರೂ.. ಅದು ಕ್ಯಾರೇ ಎನ್ನುತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ. ಅಂತಾದ್ದರಲ್ಲಿ ಆ ಸಂಸ್ಥೆಗೆ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ಅಂತಾರಾಷ್ಟ್ರೀಯ ಚಲನಚಿತ್ರೋತ್ಸವದ ಹೊಣೆ ನೀಡಿದ್ದು ಎಷ್ಟು ಸರಿ ಎಂದು ಹಲವರು ಪ್ರಶ್ನಿಸಿದ್ದರು. ಚಲನಚಿತ್ರ ಅಕಾಡೆಮಿ ಅಧ್ಯಕ್ಷ ಸುನಿಲ್ ಪುರಾಣಿಕ್ ಅಸಹಾಯಕತೆ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಪಡಿಸಿದ್ದರು.

ನಾನು ಅಕಾಡೆಮಿ ಅಧ್ಯಕ್ಷನಾಗಿ ನೇಮಕವಾಗುವ ಮುನ್ನ ನಡೆದಿರುವ ಒಪ್ಪಂದ ಇದು. ಹೀಗಾಗಿ ನಾನು ಏನೂ ಮಾಡಲು ಸಾಧ್ಯವಾಗುತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ ಎಂದಿದ್ದರು. ನಿರ್ಮಾಪಕ ಸಂಘದ ಅಧ್ಯಕ್ಷ ರಾಮಕೃಷ್ಣ ಕೂಡಾ ಇದೊಂದು ಕೆಟ್ಟ ಬೆಳವಣಿಗೆ ಎಂದು ಅಸಮಾಧಾನ ಹೊರಹಾಕಿದ್ದರು. ಚಿತ್ರಲೋಕ ಇದರ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ವರದಿ ಮಾಡಿತ್ತು.

ಇಷ್ಟೆಲ್ಲ ಆದ ನಂತರ ವಾರ್ತಾ ಇಲಾಖೆ ಕಾರ್ಯದರ್ಶಿ ಮಣಿವಣ್ಣನ್ ಸಕಾರಾತ್ಮಕವಾಗಿ ಸ್ಪಂದಿಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ಅಂತಾರಾಷ್ಟ್ರೀಯ ಚಲನಚಿತ್ರೋತ್ಸವ ಆಯೋಜಕರಿಗೆ ವರದಿ ನೀಡಲು ಸೂಚಿಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಅಕಾಡೆಮಿ ಅಧ್ಯಕ್ಷರು ವರದಿ ಕೊಟ್ಟ 24 ಗಂಟೆಯೊಳಗೆ ಇದನ್ನು ರದ್ದು ಮಾಡಬಹುದು ಎಂದಿದ್ದಾರೆ.

ಈಗಾಗಲೇ ಪ್ರಕ್ರಿಯೆ ಒಂದು ಹಂತಕ್ಕೆ ಮುಗಿದಿರುವುದರಿಂದ ಎಲ್ಲವನ್ನೂ ರದ್ದು ಮಾಡಲು ಸಾಧ್ಯವಿಲ್ಲ. ಹೀಗಾಗಿ ಬುಕ್ ಮೈ ಶೋನಲ್ಲಿ ಈಗಾಗಲೇ ಬುಕ್ ಆಗಿರುವ, ಪೇಮೆಂಟ್ ಟಿಕೆಟ್‍ಗಳನ್ನು ರದ್ದು ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ. ಅದನ್ನು ಬುಕ್ ಮೈ ಶೋ ಮೂಲಕವೇ ಮಾಡಿಕೊಳ್ಳಬೇಕು.

ಉಳಿದಂತೆ ಅಕಾಡೆಮಿ ಮೂಲಕ ಪಡೆಯಬಹುದಾದ ಪಾಸ್‍ಗಳನ್ನು ಅಕಾಡೆಮಿಯೇ ನಿರ್ವಹಿಸಲಿದೆ. ಒಟ್ಟಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಚಿತ್ರಲೋಕ ವರದಿಯ ನಂತರ  ಏಕಸ್ವಾಮ್ಯ ಸಾಧಿಸಲು ಹೊರಟಿದ್ದ ಬುಕ್ ಮೈ ಶೋ ಆಟಕ್ಕೆ ಅರ್ಧ ಬ್ರೇಕ್ ಬಿದ್ದಿದೆ.

ಬುಕ್ ಮೈ ಶೋನಲ್ಲಿ ಗೋಲ್‍ಮಾಲ್ ನಡೆಯುತ್ತಿದೆ ಎನ್ನುವುದು ಹೊಸ ವಿಷಯವೇ ಅಲ್ಲ. ಆದರೆ, ಈ ಬಾರಿ ಈ ಹೋರಾಟಕ್ಕೆ ಇನ್ನಷ್ಟು ರೊಚ್ಚು ಬಂದಿದೆ. ಏಕೆಂದರೆ ಈ ಬಾರಿ ಬುಕ್ ಮೈ ಶೋ ವಿರುದ್ಧ ಸಿಡಿದೆದ್ದಿರುವುದು ಕನ್ನಡದ ಸ್ಟಾರ್ ಡೈರೆಕ್ಟರ್ ಸಂತೋಷ್ ಆನಂದರಾಮ್ ಮತ್ತು ಖ್ಯಾತ ವಿತರಕ ಕಾರ್ತಿಕ್ ಗೌಡ.

ಕನ್ನಡದ ಚಿತ್ರಗಳಿಗೆ ಬುಕ್ ಮೈ ಶೋನಲ್ಲಿ ಕಡಿಮೆ ರೇಟಿಂಗ್ ಇರುತ್ತೆ. ಆನಂತರ ಕೆಲವರು ಹಣಕ್ಕೆ ಡಿಮ್ಯಾಂಡ್ ಇಡುತ್ತಾರೆ. ದುಡ್ಡು ಕೊಟ್ಟರೆ ನಿಮ್ಮ ಚಿತ್ರದ ರೇಟಿಂಗ್ ಹೆಚ್ಚಿಸುತ್ತೇನೆ ಎನ್ನುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಇದು ಹಲವು ಚಿತ್ರಗಳಿಗೆ ಆಗಿರುವ ಅನ್ಯಾಯ. ಈ ಕುರಿತೇ ಧ್ವನಿ ಎತ್ತಿದ್ದಾರೆ ಸಂತೋಷ್ ಆನಂದರಾಮ್.

ಬುಕ್ ಮೈ ಶೋ ಅತೀ ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಲಾಭ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿರುವುದು ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದಲ್ಲಿ. ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರೇ ಬುಕ್ ಮೈ ಶೋನ ಅತಿ ದೊಡ್ಡ ಕಸ್ಟಮರ್ಸ್. ಆದರೆ, ಅದರ ಲಾಭ ಮಾತ್ರ ಕನ್ನಡ ಚಿತ್ರಕ್ಕೆ ಆಗುತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ. ಅತೀ ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಹಣ ನೀಡಿ ಸಿನಿಮಾ ನೋಡುವುದು. ಹೀಗಾಗಿ ನಮ್ಮ ಸಿನಿಮಾಗಳನ್ನು ಸಪೋರ್ಟ್ ಮಾಡಿ ಎಂದಿದ್ದಾರೆ ಸಂತೋಷ್ ಆನಂದರಾಮ್.

ಇನ್ನು ವಿತರಕ ಕಾರ್ತಿಕ್ ಗೌಡ ಅವರಂತೂ ಮೊದಲು ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿಲ್ಲ ಎಂದು ಬರುವ ವಿಮರ್ಶೆ ಮತ್ತು ರೇಟಿಂಗ್ ಹಣ ಕೊಟ್ಟ ನಂತರ ಜಾಸ್ತಿಯಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಪಾಸಿಟಿವ್ ಆಗುತ್ತದೆ ಎಂದರೆ ಏನರ್ಥ..? ಬುಕ್ ಮೈ ಶೋನವರೇ ಉತ್ತರಿಸಬೇಕು ಎಂದಿದ್ದಾರೆ.

ಎಂದಿನಂತೆ ಬುಕ್ ಮೈ ಶೋ ಈ ಬಾರಿಯೂ ಪ್ರತಿಕ್ರಿಯೆ ಕೊಟ್ಟಿಲ್ಲ.