Tue Feb 18 18:32:08 UTC 2025: ## Bengaluru Man Awarded Rs 65,000 for Excessive Movie Ads
**Bengaluru, India –** A Bengaluru resident has successfully sued PVR Cinemas and INOX Leisure for excessive pre-movie advertising, winning Rs 65,000 in compensation. Abhishek MR, 30, filed the lawsuit after a 25-minute delay in the start of the film “Sam Bahadur” due to lengthy advertisements and trailers. The incident, which occurred in 2023, disrupted his schedule and caused significant inconvenience.
The consumer court ruled in MR’s favor, stating that the excessive advertising constituted an unfair trade practice. The court acknowledged that time is money and ordered PVR and INOX to pay Rs 50,000 for wasting MR’s time, Rs 5,000 for mental agony, and Rs 10,000 for court costs. Additionally, a penalty of Rs 1 lakh was imposed on both cinema chains, to be deposited into the consumer welfare fund.
While the court acknowledged that PVR and INOX are legally obligated to show Public Service Announcements (PSAs), it stipulated that these should be limited to a maximum of 10 minutes before the film’s start and during intermissions. The court absolved ticket-booking platform BookMyShow from liability, citing its lack of control over advertisement timings.
In their defense, PVR and INOX cited their legal obligation to display PSAs. However, the court’s decision highlights the increasing consumer awareness regarding excessive advertising and the value placed on consumers’ time. The ruling serves as a precedent for future cases concerning pre-movie advertising practices. PVR and INOX have 30 days to comply with the court’s order.
First Piper 