A Bengaluru consumer court has ruled that PVR Cinemas and INOX (now merged with PVR) must ensure that movie tickets display the actual start time of the film, excluding advertisements, according to a report by ‘Bar & Bench’.
The ruling follows a complaint by Abhishek MR, who alleged that he lost 25 minutes due to prolonged commercial ads before a screening of ‘Sam Bahadur’ in 2024. He argued that the delay disrupted his schedule, making it difficult for him to return to work as planned. In response, he filed a case against PVR Cinemas, INOX, and BookMyShow.
The court dismissed claims against BookMyShow, stating the platform has no control over showtimes. However, it criticized PVR and INOX for compelling audiences to endure excessive advertisements, emphasizing that “time is money” and that people with tight schedules shouldn’t be forced to waste time watching commercials.
The commission directed the multiplexes to state the exact movie start time on tickets and to stop running ads beyond the scheduled showtime. Additionally, PVR and INOX were ordered to pay ₹20,000 in compensation for the complainant’s mental distress and inconvenience, along with ₹8,000 for legal expenses. The court also imposed a ₹1 lakh fine as punitive damages.
PVR and INOX defended the practice, claiming ads provide a buffer for latecomers delayed by security checks. However, the court ruled this unfair to punctual viewers, reinforcing that multiplexes cannot profit at the cost of customers’ time.
