News Desk
BANGALORE — In what legal scholars are calling “a landmark victory for human patience,” a Bengaluru consumer court has ruled in favor of an exhausted moviegoer who successfully proved that he aged approximately three years while waiting for a movie to begin at a local theatre.
Abhishekh M.R., a 31-year-old lawyer and now a national hero, took multiplex giant PVR Inox to court after enduring an unending marathon of advertisements that lasted longer than his weekend plans.
His case—filed in January 2024—argued that the soul-crushing parade of commercials and trailers before Sam Bahadur caused him “mental agony,” “existential dread,” and a severe loss of faith in humanity.
The harrowing experience began when Mr. Abhishekh, an optimist at heart, bought three tickets to the war drama, scheduled to begin at 4:05 PM. However, he soon found himself trapped in a relentless vortex of toothpaste endorsements, car insurance pitches, and deeply moving public service announcements about brushing twice a day.
“I saw two entire life insurance ads before questioning my own mortality,” he told reporters. “By the third ad, I had forgotten which movie I had come to watch.”
The court sympathized with his suffering, ruling that “no one has the right to gain benefit out of others’ time and money”—a statement that sent chills down the spines of corporate executives nationwide.
PVR Inox was ordered to cough up 20,000 rupees in damages, 8,000 rupees in legal costs, and a further 100,000 rupees to the Consumer Welfare Fund, a government body known for pretending to use such funds wisely.
In its defense, PVR Inox tried the classic “public service announcement clause,” arguing that they were legally required to show 10 minutes of government-mandated content. However, the court noted that “10 minutes” had mysteriously expanded into “a lifetime,” featuring 17 ads on everything from mutual funds to luxury apartments no one can afford.
The ruling has sparked nationwide celebrations, with moviegoers rejoicing at the thought of actually seeing a film at its advertised showtime. Meanwhile, corporations are scrambling to find new ways to bombard audiences, with some considering subliminal advertising embedded into the film’s dialogue.
As for Mr. Abhishekh, he is reportedly basking in his legal triumph. When asked about his future plans, he stated, “I think I’ll watch Sam Bahadur again—this time, on OTT, where I can skip the ads.”
