Bengaluru Moviegoer Triumphs in Court after Suing PVR-INOX for 25 Minutes of Ad Disruption
The consumer court, asserting "time is considered as money", directed PVR Cinemas and INOX to compensate for the loss incurred by the complainant.
Bengaluru: A Bengaluru resident impregnable Rs 65,000 in compensation after successfully suing PVR cinemas, INOX, and BookMyShow for “wasting” 25 minutes of his time by airing overlong advertisements before a movie screening, which he claimed caused “mental agony”.
Abhishek MR, the complainant, stated that in 2023, he purchased three tickets for the movie Sam Bahadur for a 4:05 PM show. Expecting the film to conclude by 6:30 PM so he could resume work, he was taken aback when the movie started only at 4:30 PM, following an extensive sequence of advertisements and trailers that consumed nearly 30 minutes.
His complaint highlighted that these unexpected delays disrupted his planned schedule, resulting in losses that could not be quantified in monetary terms. He argued that his “valuable time” was squandered due to misleading show timings, which he deemed an “unfair trade practice” aimed at maximizing profits through prolonged advertisements.
Emphasizing that “time is considered as money,” the consumer court ruled in his favor, directing PVR Cinemas and INOX to compensate for his inconvenience. The court ordered the cinema chains to pay Rs 50,000 for their unfair trade practices and wasting the complainant’s time, Rs 5,000 for mental distress, and Rs 10,000 to cover legal expenses. Additionally, a fine of Rs one lakh was imposed on both cinema chains.
However, BookMyShow was exempted from any liability as it functions solely as a ticket-booking platform and does not control advertisement duration.
Bengaluru man wins case against PVR-INOX for wasting time with 25-min ads
— Law Today (@LawTodayLive) February 19, 2025
A consumer court in Bengaluru ruled in favour of a man who sued PVR Cinemas and INOX for wasting his time with long commercial advertisements. https://t.co/vt0yniBHND
Consumer Court’s Verdict
In its ruling dated February 15, the court asserted, "No one has the right to gain benefit out of others' time and money," underlining that "25-30 minutes is not an insignificant period to sit idly in a theatre and watch whatever is broadcasted."
The judgment acknowledged that individuals with tight schedules find such unsolicited advertisements burdensome, particularly when they interfere with professional or personal commitments.
PVR-INOX’s Justification
PVR Cinemas and INOX defended their practice by stating that they are legally obligated to screen Public Service Announcements to raise awareness of important issues.
However, the court clarified that these PSAs should be limited to a maximum of 10 minutes before the movie begins and during the intermission before the second half of the film.
Furthermore, PVR Cinemas and INOX were instructed to deposit Rs one lakh into the consumer welfare fund. They must comply with this directive within 30 days from the issuance of the order.
This ruling underscores the importance of consumer rights and highlights the growing frustration among moviegoers regarding excessive pre-movie advertising. The verdict sets a precedent, reinforcing that entertainment providers must respect the time and expectations of their audiences.
