PVR Inox learns its lessons, the hard way, read to know why

The Bengaluru Urban District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has imposed a Rs 1.2 lakh penalty on multiplex giant PVR Inox for delaying movie screenings with excessive advertisements, frustrating customers. The ruling came after a local resident lodged a complaint against the cinema chain for disrupting his viewing experience of Sam Bahadur at Orion Mall’s PVR Cinemas on December 26, 2023.

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The complainant had booked three tickets costing Rs 825.70 for a 4:05 PM show, expected to conclude by 6:30 PM. However, the multiplex aired trailers and ads until 4:28 PM, pushing back the film’s start time. Aggrieved by the delay, which he said caused him to miss other plans, the Bengaluru native accused PVR Inox of misleading patrons with inaccurate show timings to boost ad revenue, calling it a breach of consumer rights.

The commission, after examining video evidence, found that PVR exceeded permissible limits, airing 25 minutes of ads—mostly commercial—when guidelines allow only 10 minutes of PSAs before films.

The commission ordered PVR Inox to pay Rs 20,000 in compensation, Rs 8,000 in legal fees, and deposit Rs 1 lakh into the consumer welfare fund. PVR Inox plans to appeal, asserting its dedication to fair practices despite disagreeing with the verdict. The ruling emphasizes that cinemas must respect advertised show timings, as “time is valuable” for movie-goers.