Bengaluru, February 19 – A district consumer court in Bengaluru has found PVR INOX guilty of unfair trade practices for delaying movie screenings due to excessive advertisements. The court has directed the multiplex chain to pay ₹1 lakh in punitive damages and ensure that viewers are provided with a clear and accurate movie start time.
The case was filed by a Bengaluru resident who, along with two family members, attended a 4:05 PM screening of the film "Sam Bahadur" in December 2023. However, due to prolonged advertisements, the actual screening began at 4:30 PM, disrupting their schedule and wasting their time.
The court awarded the complainant ₹20,000 for inconvenience and mental distress, along with ₹8,000 in litigation costs. Emphasizing the value of time in today’s fast-paced world, the court ruled that businesses cannot exploit consumers’ time and money unfairly.
The judgment noted that spending 25 to 30 minutes on advertisements is a significant waste of time, particularly for those with busy schedules. It stated that while movies serve as entertainment, viewers still have other responsibilities, and their time should be respected.
PVR INOX defended its actions by citing government regulations that mandate the screening of public service announcements (PSAs) before films. However, the court pointed out that these guidelines limit such screenings to a maximum of 10 minutes.
The complainant had recorded the advertisements as evidence, prompting PVR INOX to argue that this violated anti-piracy laws. The court dismissed this claim, clarifying that only advertisements were recorded—not the film—and that the recording was done solely to highlight the issue affecting viewers.
