Bengaluru man sues PVR-INOX over excessive ads

In a noteworthy ruling, a consumer court in Bengaluru awarded a 30-year-old man compensatory damages of Rs 65,000 after he successfully sued PVR Cinemas, INOX, and BookMyShow for wasting his time by showing lengthy commercials prior to a movie screening.

The case was brought forward by Abhishek MR, who claimed that he faced "mental agony" after commercials delayed the start of his movie, impacting his subsequent plans.

In 2023, Abhishek purchased tickets for a 4:05 pm screening of 'Sam Bahadur.' Expecting the movie to conclude by 6:30 pm, he had planned to return to work afterward. However, the film began at 4:30 pm, following over 25 minutes of advertisements and trailers. This delay, according to Abhishek, led to the disruption of his schedule and financial losses that were not easily quantifiable.

Abhishek's complaint argued that his "precious time" was squandered due to misleading show timings, claiming it constituted an "unfair trade practice" as the cinemas profited by showcasing lengthy commercials.

The court affirmed his stance, emphasizing that "time is considered as money." It directed PVR Cinemas and INOX to compensate Abhishek Rs 50,000 for the unfair trade practice, Rs 5,000 for mental distress, and Rs 10,000 for expenses related to the complaint. Additionally, each cinema was fined Rs one lakh. BookMyShow, being merely a ticket-booking facilitator, was not held liable.

In its order dated February 15, the court underscored that "no one has the right to gain benefit out of others' time and money," lamenting the inconvenience of sitting "idle" for 25-30 minutes watching unnecessary advertisements. The court acknowledged the challenge such delays pose for individuals with tight schedules.

PVR Cinemas and INOX, in their defense, cited legal obligations to screen Public Service Announcements (PSAs) for public awareness. However, the court stipulated that these should be limited to 10 minutes before the film begins and during intermission.

Furthermore, the court instructed PVR Cinemas and INOX to pay Rs one lakh to the consumer welfare fund, with a 30-day deadline for the payment following the judgment.