When the lights dim in a cinema hall, time itself becomes part of the ticketed promise.
Showtime Means Showtime
In a significant ruling, the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Medak at Sangareddy, Telangana, held that even a short delay before a film begins can amount to unfair treatment. The bench, headed by P. Kasthuri, ruled in favour of 24-year-old advocate Harsha Vardhan Gujjeti, who challenged a late-night screening that started minutes after the printed time.
Gujjeti had booked two tickets via BookMyShow for the 10:00 PM show of Court: State Vs A Nobody on March 15, 2025, at INOX Leisure Ltd., Sattva Necklace Mall, Secunderabad, paying Rs. 483. Instead of commencing at 10:00 PM, advertisements and trailers reportedly ran until 10:09 PM inside Screen No. 7. He argued the delay caused professional inconvenience and mental distress, seeking a refund, Rs. 8 lakh in compensation and Rs. 2 lakh in litigation costs.
The Commission noted that INOX Leisure Ltd. had merged with PVR Limited under a January 12, 2023 order of the National Company Law Tribunal and now operates as PVR INOX Limited.
BookMyShow’s parent, Big Tree Entertainment Pvt. Ltd., was cleared after the Commission accepted it merely facilitated bookings without control over show timings. The panel emphasized that the 10:00 PM showtime printed on the ticket was a binding contractual commitment.
Ads, Accountability and Compensation
Citing the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting’s Office Memorandum dated November 30, 2023, the Commission observed that public service announcements may run within ten minutes before a film. However, commercial advertisements were screened after the scheduled start.
“The delay caused was not due to any technical or other reasons but for playing commercial advertisements after the start of movie time (i.e., 10:00 pm), for which we consider that it amounts to generating business for them. Hence, the conduct amounts to a deficiency in service and unfair trade practice,” the order stated.
Rejecting the multiplex’s defence that advertisements were part of business rights, the Commission clarified that mandatory announcements must precede, not follow, the scheduled time.
The complaint was partly allowed. PVR INOX Limited was directed to pay Rs. 5,000 for mental agony and Rs. 3,000 as litigation costs, with 9% annual interest applicable if unpaid within 45 days. On the claim of professional loss, the Commission noted, “The complainant, being an advocate, has not filed any credible evidence for the loss sustained by him for not attending to his professional commitment. Without there being any evidence quantifying the damage, he is not entitled to the huge amount of compensation as claimed in the complaint.”
In the hush before a film begins, even nine minutes can echo like a breach of trust.
Summary
A Telangana consumer court ruled that delaying a film beyond its printed showtime for advertisements amounts to deficiency in service. The Commission directed PVR INOX to compensate an advocate Rs. 8,000 for a nine-minute delay, while dismissing larger claims and clearing BookMyShow. The order underscores that cinema tickets represent binding time commitments to viewers.
