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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe Hyderabad District Consumer Commission found that the theatre’s conduct amounted to deficiency in service and an unfair trade practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Movie Was Scheduled For 10:35 PM<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The 33-year-old customer had booked two tickets to watch Dhanush and Nagarjuna-starrer Kubera on June 20, 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The show was scheduled to begin at 10:35 pm. He and his friend entered the theatre around 10:30 pm and took their seats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, instead of the movie beginning shortly after the scheduled time, the theatre continued playing commercial advertisements and promotional trailers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The main film eventually started at around 10:52 pm, resulting in a delay of approximately 22 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Customer Reached Home An Hour Late<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The moviegoer argued that the delay affected his schedule and personal commitments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He said he eventually reached home at around 3 am, nearly an hour later than he had expected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He approached the consumer commission, arguing that the extended commercial advertisements amounted to a deficiency in service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Theatre Defended Its Advertisements<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The theatre company argued that showing advertisements, commercials, movie trailers and public service awareness films was part of its normal business activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It also defended the screening of public service announcements, saying these were intended to spread awareness about issues such as education, agriculture, welfare schemes and cleanliness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The theatre argued that showing such content before the movie was appropriate because audiences were already seated inside the auditorium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Commission Separates Commercial Ads From Public Service Films<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The consumer commission examined the rules governing advertisements and public service awareness films.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It noted that government guidelines restrict the duration of approved public service awareness films to up to two minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The commission, however, specifically found the theatre responsible for the delay caused by commercial advertisements and promotional content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It held that the theatre had continued showing commercial advertisements for financial benefit, resulting in an unfair and restrictive trade practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rs 20,000 Compensation And Rs 50,000 Penalty<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The commission ordered the theatre company to pay Rs 20,000 as compensation to the consumer and another Rs 5,000 towards litigation costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It also directed the company to deposit Rs 50,000 with the District Consumer Welfare Fund as punitive damages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This brought the total financial liability to Rs 75,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The punitive amount was intended to discourage the theatre from repeating the practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n