Movie Delay Due To 22 Minutes Of Ads, Theatre Ordered To Pay Rs 75,000

People watching films in theatres may sometimes have to sit through advertisements and trailers before the scheduled show begins. While some pre-show content is common, a recent consumer case has raised questions over delays caused by extended commercial advertisements.

In a recent case, the Hyderabad District Consumer Commission directed a movie theatre company to pay Rs 75,000 after a 33-year-old man complained that advertisements and trailers delayed the screening of Dhanush and Nagarjuna-starrer Kubera.

What Happened In The Case

According to a report by The Indian Express, the man had booked two tickets for the June 20, 2025 show, which was scheduled for 10:35 pm. He said he and his friend reached their seats by 10:30 pm, but the theatre continued screening advertisements and trailers until 10:52 pm.

The man claimed that he expected the film to begin shortly after the scheduled time but had to wait while advertisements and trailers continued to play. Public service awareness films were screened after this, following which the main feature began.

He said the delay affected his plans and that he reached home at around 3 am, nearly an hour later than expected. He approached the consumer commission seeking compensation, alleging that the delay amounted to a deficiency in service.

What The Commission Observed

The commission found that the theatre’s conduct amounted to a deficiency in service and an unfair trade practice. It also considered the government guidelines governing the screening of public service awareness films.

The September 11 order said, “The duration of screening of the approved films / PSA (public service awareness) films has now been restricted to up to 2 minutes.” The commission observed that the theatre had violated this requirement by screening commercial advertisements and held that the conduct was intended to derive commercial benefit.

Rs 75,000 Compensation

The commission, comprising President Vakkanti Narasimha Rao and member Suma Vala, awarded Rs 25,000 as compensation to the consumer.

It also directed the theatre company to pay Rs 50,000 to the District Consumer Welfare Fund as damages, with the aim of preventing the unfair trade practice from being repeated. The total amount ordered by the commission was Rs 75,000.