Fleecing by theatres

Location/place: Chennai

Name of company/service: S2 Cinemas

I am a regular movie goer in Chennai. I am particularly fond of Sathyam Cinemas and their theatres across Chennai. However I had a very bad experience yesterday. On 19 July 2013 me and my friends went to S2 Cinemas, Perambur to watch the night show of Bhaag Milkha bhaag. At the ticket counter I was told that seats were available only in the second row from the screen. Since I had to pay Rs.120 per ticket for the second row, I asked him to give me the first row tickets instead because I knew they would only cost Rs.10 each. The executive said the first row is completely sold out and tickets were unavailable. Since I was already skeptical and aware of such tactics I asked him to recheck. He confirmed that the first row was fully booked. Although I still had my own doubts I went ahead and purchased the second row tickets at Rs.120 per ticket. As the movie had already started we rushed inside. However we were shocked to notice that the entire front row was vacant(see pictures).
During the intermission, I went to the ticket counter and it was vacant. There was a theatre official standing near by. I complained to him that I was refused the front row seats on grounds on unavailability, but it was completely vacant. He said only after all the Rs.120 tickets are sold out they issue the Rs.10 tickets. I told him that its wrong on their part to do so. Another official argued that that’s the Government rule and they are merely following it. When I demanded to meet the manager, after much reluctance Mr. Jay Ganesan who introduced himself as the manager came and he gave another ridiculous reason. He said that the Rs.10 tickets are sold only on advance booking at 9.00 am and not during current booking. I argued that if that’s the case when the seats are available why don’t you sell them now during current booking ? He had no reply to this and kept mumbling that they are following the orders of some Government official in that area. All this clearly shows that the theatre owners try to violate the Government norms , which were introduced to benefit the public, by using such silly loop holes.
I request you to intervene and take suitable action against S2 Cinemas, Perambur and also please ensure that it is not repeated again in any theatre across Chennai. The theatre should refund the ticket amount of Rs.240, which I was forced to buy, and I am ready to pay Rs.20 for two tickets as I had intended.
These theatres charge humungous amount for snacks and yet serve substandard quality of pop corn and most of the time the seasonings which make them worth the huge cost, are not available.
These kind of practices are regular across the cinema halls in Chennai. Once at Inox theatre in Mylapore, we were asked to buy minimum three tickets. We needed only two tickets and they were refusing to sell two tickets. Only after complaining to the manager, we were given the required quantity.
I request the Government to reign in the theatres and keep a tab on the tickets pricing, snacks pricing and quantity and take steps to ensure that rules are followed.
Warm regards.
Raj Bhandari.


Comments

9 responses to “Fleecing by theatres”

  1. John Mathew Avatar
    John Mathew

    Location: Chennai
    Name of Company: Luxe Cinemas/Sathyam Cinemas/SPI Cinemas

    We’ve been facing the same problem at the newly opened Luxe Cinemas in Phoenix Mall, Velachery. We were able to see five or six movies on Rs.10 ticket. But then they started making up rules on the spot to prevent selling the budget tickets. They made a rule of 15 minute window each day to buy Rs.10 tickets at the counter. And more than on couple of occasions we had been present for the entire 15-minute durations at the counter and still they would keep coming up with new excuses.

    So we’d like to know if you’ve found any solution to this. Please let me know here.

  2. George Avatar
    George

    Hey john when do they give budget tickets at luxe. Is it just like at escape in the mornings where everything is systematic or do we have to ask at the counters.? Please provide the information. I stay at velachery and go all the way to ea in the morning to get the tickets.

  3. Even today 27/7 luxe denied to sell budget tickets.. all 120 tickets were filled hence I requested fr budget tickets just to get lame excuses and its very clear they dont want to sell it.. I have seen around 10 movies at luxe but not even once I saw anyonne in first two rows.. does anyone know wtz d exact govt. Rule on this?

  4. vignesh Avatar
    vignesh

    Hey George , pls tell me at wat time do they start giving out 10₹ tickets in escape ?
    I live close to EA , wish i could give it a try!!

  5. i faced the same at pvr cinemas, skywalk, aminjikarai, chennai.

  6. S2 cinemas perambur Budget ticket is not issue in the timing. no response.not issue all movie tickets.mainly not issue the hindi movie tickets also.more crowd means pls issue the tickets quickly.otherwise pls follow escape rules.they issue the budget tickets in the timing.they issue the tickets daily at 6.00am.they issue all movie tickets for all shows.more crowd means they issue the budget tickets quickly.so pls take the action to s2 cinemas perambur.

  7. Bhaji ravinder Avatar
    Bhaji ravinder

    Hey guys ,
    All of your complaints will be taken to the right person who is my close relative in cinema tax board. So action will be taken soon

  8. Not able to book online budget tickets in luxe pls take action on luxe

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