A 31-year-old man from Bangalore has successfully sued a major cinema chain after a barrage of pre-movie commercials cost him precious time—and his work call. Abhishek M.R. attended a screening of the war drama Sam Bahadur at a PVR Inox theater in Bangalore on December 26, 2023, only to find that what was supposed to be a 2½‑hour film turned into an extended waiting game.
Abhishek explains that his movie experience was delayed by a lengthy sequence of advertisements. “I counted 17 commercials and 2 public service announcements before the movie even started,” he recalled. The extra 25–30 minutes not only pushed back the film’s start, but also caused him to miss an important work call, leading him to file a lawsuit over the “unfair trade practice.”
According to court documents from the Bangalore District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Abhishek claimed the delay caused him significant “mental agony” and financial inconvenience. Although PVR Inox argued that a brief run of public service announcements is legally mandated, the court found that the overwhelming number of ads went far beyond what is required and essentially stole the viewer’s time.
In its ruling, the commission stated, “Time is money, and no one has the right to profit from someone else’s lost time.” As a result, the theater chain was ordered to compensate Abhishek with over $200 in damages along with additional legal costs.
The case highlights a growing concern among moviegoers in India, where extended ad breaks are becoming a common complaint. It serves as a wake-up call to theater chains about respecting customers’ time and upholding consumer rights.
Abhishek’s victory has not only provided him with compensation but also sent a clear message to businesses: your customers’ time is valuable. As the digital age transforms how we consume media, this lawsuit may well encourage stricter guidelines on ad durations in cinemas across the country.
