5 hrs ago
Hyderabad Moviegoer Awarded Rs 75,000 Over Delayed Film
A man in Hyderabad bought tickets for a movie scheduled to start at 10:35 p.m.
The movie did not begin until 10:52 p.m.
because advertisements and trailers were shown first.
Reports described the delay as nearly 22 minutes.
The man said the late start made him reach home about an hour later than expected.
He complained to a consumer commission.
The theatre said showing advertisements and public service messages was allowed as part of its business.
The commission said the commercial advertisements delayed the movie unfairly.
It ordered the theatre to pay a total of Rs 75,000, including compensation, legal costs and a penalty.
A Hyderabad consumer commission awarded a moviegoer Rs 75,000 after advertisements and trailers delayed his film.
The complainant’s 10:35 p.m. screening of ‘Kubera’ reportedly began at 10:52 p.m.; the delay was described as nearly 22 minutes.
The commission ordered Rs 20,000 in compensation, Rs 5,000 in litigation costs and Rs 50,000 in punitive damages.
It found the theatre’s commercial advertisements and promotional content constituted deficiency in service and an unfair trade practice.
The theatre argued that advertisements, trailers and public service announcements were part of its business operations, but the commission distinguished commercial content from limited public service films.
- Who
- A 33-year-old Hyderabad moviegoer and the theatre company that screened his show.
- What
- The Hyderabad District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission ordered the theatre to pay Rs 75,000 over a delayed movie screening.
- Where
- Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
- When
- The show was scheduled for 10:35 p.m. on June 20, 2025; the order was passed on September 11.
- Why
- The commission found that commercial advertisements and promotional content significantly delayed the film and amounted to deficiency in service and an unfair trade practice.
Moviegoer’s Case
Theatre’s Defense
Delayed start
Moviegoer’s Case
The complainant said commercial advertisements and trailers unnecessarily delayed the 10:35 p.m. film and caused inconvenience, including a late return home.
Theatre’s Defense
The theatre maintained that screening advertisements, commercials, trailers and public service announcements was part of its right to conduct business.
Public service announcements
Moviegoer’s Case
The complainant objected to the overall delay before the feature film began.
Theatre’s Defense
The theatre said public service messages addressed issues such as education, agriculture, welfare and Swachh Bharat, and were shown while audiences were seated.
Consumer-law violation
Moviegoer’s Case
The commission agreed that the commercial content caused deficiency in service and an unfair trade practice.
Theatre’s Defense
The theatre disputed the complaint, but the commission held that commercial advertisements could not be used to justify the delay and noted that public service films were limited to up to two minutes.
Key facts
- Total award
- Rs 75,000
- Compensation
- Rs 20,000
- Litigation costs
- Rs 5,000
- Punitive damages
- Rs 50,000 to the District Consumer Welfare Fund
- Scheduled showtime
- 10:35 p.m. on June 20, 2025
- Reported film start
- 10:52 p.m.
- Film
- ‘Kubera’, starring Dhanush and Nagarjuna and directed by Sekhar Kammula
Quotes
Hyderabad District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission
Consumer commission that ruled against the theatre over the delayed screening
“The duration of screening of the approved films / PSA (public service awareness) films has now been restricted to ‘up to 2 minutes’”
financialexpress.com
Sources
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