Summary: A Bengaluru man sued PVR-INOX for wasting his time with lengthy ads before a movie, winning ₹65,000 in compensation. The consumer court ruled the delay as “unfair trade practice.”
In a landmark ruling, a 30-year-old Bengaluru man, Abhishek MR, won ₹65,000 in damages after suing PVR Cinemas, INOX, and BookMyShow for running excessive advertisements before a movie, which caused a delay and disrupted his schedule. The consumer court upheld his claim that the prolonged screening of ads amounted to an “unfair trade practice” and “wasted his precious time.”
The Complaint: Delayed Movie, Missed Commitments
Abhishek had booked three tickets for the 4:05 PM screening of Sam Bahadur in 2023, expecting the film to conclude by 6:30 PM so he could return to work. However, the movie did not start until 4:30 PM due to nearly 25 minutes of advertisements and trailers, significantly delaying the schedule.
He argued that the misleading showtime and excessive ad duration caused him mental distress and financial loss, stating:
“The complainant could not attend other arrangements and appointments scheduled for the day, facing losses that cannot be calculated in terms of money.”
The court acknowledged his frustration, ruling that “time is considered as money” and that no business has the right to profit by wasting consumers’ time.
Court Verdict: Compensation & Penalty
The consumer court found PVR Cinemas and INOX guilty of misleading show timings to maximize advertising revenue. The ruling included:
- ₹50,000 for unfair trade practice and time wasted.
- ₹5,000 for mental agony caused to the complainant.
- ₹10,000 for legal expenses.
- ₹1 lakh penalty imposed on PVR Cinemas and INOX, to be deposited in the consumer welfare fund.
However, the court ruled that BookMyShow was not liable, as it only serves as a ticket-booking platform with no control over ad durations.
What the Court Said
In its February 15 order, the court strongly criticized the practice of forcing audiences to sit through lengthy advertisements:
“No one has the right to gain benefit out of others’ time and money. Sitting idle for 25-30 minutes in a theatre watching unwanted content is unfair to consumers, especially those with busy schedules.”
The court also clarified that Public Service Announcements (PSAs) required by law must be limited to 10 minutes before the movie and during the interval, ensuring they don’t excessively delay the film’s actual start time.
PVR-INOX’s Defense & Final Ruling
PVR Cinemas and INOX argued that they were legally bound to screen PSAs for public awareness. However, the court dismissed this justification, ordering them to pay all compensation within 30 days of the ruling.
This case sets a major precedent for moviegoers who often experience prolonged delays due to excessive advertisements, reaffirming that businesses cannot misuse consumer time for profit.
