Consumer court orders PVR INOX to pay ₹70k for delaying film screening by playing ads

A District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in Hyderabad has ordered PVR Cinemas and PVR INOX Ltd. to pay ₹20,000 as compensation to an advocate, besides depositing ₹50,000 as damages, for delaying a film's screening by playing advertisements for over 20 minutes beyond the scheduled showtime [Chanda Athish Kumar vs PVR Cinemas & Anr].

A coram of President Vakkanti Narasimha Rao and Member Suma Vala held that deliberately misrepresenting movie start times to commercially exploit viewers through non-essential ads amounts to deficiency in service and an unfair trade practice under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.

The complainant, advocate Chanda Athish Kumar, had purchased two tickets for a 10:35 PM screening of the Telugu film Kubera on June 20, 2025, at Next Galleria Mall, Moosarambagh.

However, the theater continued running advertisements and promotional trailers until 10:52 PM, followed by mandatory public service awareness (PSA) films, causing an unwarranted delay of nearly 22 minutes.

Kumar submitted that this delay extended his return journey past 3:00 AM, caused severe inconvenience, and exposed him to late-night travel hazards.

He further pointed out an Office Memorandum of the Union Ministry of Information & Broadcasting restricting mandatory screening of approved/ PSA films to a maximum of two minutes, which the theater flouted to earn undue commercial revenue.

In response, PVR INOX contended that exhibiting commercials, trailers, and PSAs is an integral aspect of its fundamental right to carry on trade and business under the Constitution.

It placed reliance on the Supreme Court's decision in KC Cinema v. State of Jammu & Kashmir, arguing cinema halls are private property entitled to set reasonable terms serving social welfare.

The district consumer court rejected the theatre chain's defence, observing that the opposite parties failed to rebut the complainant's compact disc (CD) evidence demonstrating commercial ads playing well after the scheduled film commencement time.

Consequently, the Commission directed PVR Cinemas and PVR INOX (opposite parties) to pay ₹20,000 as compensation to the complainant within 45 days, with 9 per cent interest per annum in case of a default in payment. Further, the opposite parties were ordered to pay the complainant ₹5,000 towards litigation costs. Additionally, the opposite parties were ordered to deposit ₹50,000 as punitive damages into the District Consumer Welfare Fund.

They were also warned to discontinue the flagged unfair and restrictive trade practices in future.

[Read Order]