Hyderabad consumer commission orders PVR INOX to pay Rs 75,000 over late show

HYDERABAD: A late-night movie outing has proved costly for PVR INOX, with a Hyderabad consumer commission directing the cinema operator to pay Rs 75,000 after advertisements, trailers and public service content delayed the start of a scheduled screening.

The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission-II, Hyderabad, ordered PVR Cinemas and PVR INOX to pay advocate Chanda Athish Kumar Rs 20,000 as compensation for the inconvenience caused, along with Rs 5,000 towards litigation expenses.

The commission also imposed Rs 50,000 in punitive damages, directing the amount to be deposited with the District Consumer Welfare Fund.

The case relates to a 20 June 2025 screening of the Telugu film Kubera at PVR’s Next Galleria Mall outlet in Moosarambagh. Kumar had booked two tickets for the 10:35 pm show.

According to the complaint, commercial advertisements and film trailers continued even after the scheduled start time and ran until around 10:52 pm. Public service awareness films were screened subsequently, delaying the start of the movie by about 22 minutes.

Kumar argued that the delay disrupted his return journey, which eventually extended beyond 3 am.

He also relied on an Office Memorandum issued by the Union Ministry of Information & Broadcasting concerning the screening of approved public service awareness films. Kumar contended that the prescribed duration for such films was two minutes and that the extended pre-film content amounted to deficiency in service and an unfair trade practice.

PVR INOX disputed the complaint, arguing that advertisements, trailers and public service films formed part of its business activity.

The cinema operator also cited the Supreme Court’s ruling in KC Cinema v. State of Jammu & Kashmir, arguing that cinema halls are private properties and can impose reasonable conditions in the interest of social welfare.

The commission, however, rejected the defence.

It noted that the cinema operators had not effectively countered the evidence submitted by Kumar, including a CD showing commercial advertisements continuing beyond the scheduled commencement of the movie.

The commission held that the continued screening of commercial material beyond the permissible period amounted to deficiency in service and an unfair trade practice.

Under the order, PVR Cinemas and PVR INOX must pay Kumar Rs 20,000 as compensation and Rs 5,000 towards litigation costs. The companies must separately deposit Rs 50,000 with the District Consumer Welfare Fund as punitive damages.

The operators have been given 45 days to comply with the order. Failure to pay the compensation within the stipulated period will attract interest at 9 per cent per annum from the date of default.

The commission has also directed the cinema operators to stop the practice in question and refrain from repeating what it termed an unfair and restrictive trade practice.

The order effectively puts a price on the extra minutes audiences spend waiting for a film to begin, particularly when those delays extend into late-night travel.