Forum Mall Cinema Advertising: On-Screen, Off-Screen, and PVR INOX Ad Rates Across India

Most brands that walk into a Forum Mall multiplex for the first time — as paying advertisers, not moviegoers — are genuinely surprised by two things: how affordable the cost per reach works out to be, and how little they knew about the off-screen branding real estate that exists beyond the darkened auditorium. Forum Mall cinema advertising is, in our experience at SmartAds, one of the most underestimated media formats in the Indian market, particularly for brands that need to reach upper-middle-class urban audiences in a genuinely captive environment.

What Is Forum Mall Cinema Advertising and How Does It Work?

The Forum Mall network, developed by the Prestige Group, represents some of the most premium retail and entertainment real estate in South India — and increasingly, across the country. When we talk about Forum Mall cinema advertising, we are referring to paid brand communication placed across the PVR INOX multiplex screens and common areas inside Forum Mall properties, which include Forum Mall Koramangala in Bangalore, Forum Vijaya Mall in Chennai, Forum Courtyard Mall in Kolkata, Forum Mall Kukatpally in Hyderabad, and Forum Centre City Mall in Mysore, among others. The advertising inventory at these locations is managed through the PVR INOX media sales network, which means booking a campaign here follows the same process as booking at any premium PVR INOX property — but with the added advantage of a specific, well-defined catchment audience that visits Forum Mall for a combination of shopping, dining, and entertainment.

The mechanics of cinema advertising at Forum Mall work in two broad streams: onscreen advertising, which plays inside the auditorium before the film begins or during the interval, and off-screen advertising, which covers every touchpoint in the lobby, foyer, ticket counter, and common areas. Both streams serve different strategic purposes, and frankly speaking, most brands that come to us with a cinema advertising brief have only considered the onscreen piece — which means they are leaving a significant portion of the audience engagement opportunity untouched. A captive audience inside a darkened auditorium is one thing; but the same audience spending twenty minutes at the food counter, browsing the foyer, or waiting near the audi-door is an equally valuable moment for brand visibility, and one that costs considerably less per impression.

At SmartAds, we always tell our clients that Forum Mall cinema advertising works best when it is treated as a venue-specific media buy rather than a generic multiplex buy. The reason is simple: Forum Mall properties attract a demonstrably premium demographic, which we will discuss in detail later, and the brand environment inside a Prestige Group mall carries an implicit quality signal that reinforces whatever you are advertising. A financial services brand, a luxury automobile, a premium FMCG product — all of these categories benefit from the halo effect of being seen in a Forum Mall context, which is something you simply cannot replicate by buying the same onscreen slot at a standalone cinema.

What Are the On-Screen Advertising Formats Available at Forum Mall?

Onscreen advertising at Forum Mall PVR INOX properties comes in several formats, each occupying a distinct position in the pre-show and interval sequence. The most common and highest-impact format is the video ad — typically a 30-second or 60-second TVC played as part of the pre-show reel, which runs for approximately fifteen to twenty minutes before the film's certified start time. This pre-show ad slot is what most people picture when they think of cinema advertising, and for good reason: the audience is seated, the lights are dimming, and there is no second screen to compete with. The attention quality in these moments is genuinely unmatched by any other media format we work with.

Beyond the standard video ad, Forum Mall PVR INOX screens also offer the ad slide format, which is a static or animated still image displayed on screen during the pre-show sequence; these are priced more accessibly than full video ads and work well for local businesses or brands with a simpler message. Interval advertising is a separate and often underbooked format — ads played on screen during the interval break, when a portion of the audience is still seated and the lights come back on partially. The interval slot tends to cost slightly less than the pre-show equivalent, which makes it an interesting option for brands running multi-week campaigns on tighter budgets. On top of that, PVR INOX properties including Forum Mall screens also support the 270-degree surround screen format at select premium auditoriums, which wraps the ad experience around the audience in a way that generates significantly higher brand recall — though this format is available only at specific high-capacity screens and commands a premium accordingly.

The technical formats accepted for onscreen advertising at Forum Mall cinemas are primarily DCP format and J2K format, both of which conform to DCI (Digital Cinema Initiatives) standards; the content is delivered via a KDM (Key Delivery Message) system that authorises playback on specific screens for a defined campaign duration. What a lot of people miss is that the DCP or J2K file must be created by a certified post-production facility, and the cost of this conversion — which typically runs somewhere between ₹8,000 and ₹25,000 depending on the duration and complexity of the ad — needs to be factored into the total campaign budget from the start. We have seen campaigns get delayed by a week or more because the client's agency delivered an MP4 file and assumed the multiplex would handle conversion; it does not work that way.

What Off-Screen Branding Options Does Forum Mall Cinema Offer?

The lobby and common areas of a Forum Mall multiplex are, in many ways, a more interesting media environment than the auditorium itself — because the audience here is in a discovery mindset rather than a passive viewing mindset. Off-screen advertising at Forum Mall cinema properties covers a wide range of formats: foyer standees, pillar branding, audi-door branding, ticket counter branding, digital plasma screens in the lobby, and more elaborate integrated lobby activations that can include kiosk activation, sampling counters, and experiential setups. The PVR INOX media team manages most of this inventory, though for larger activations, coordination with the Forum Mall property management team (under the Prestige Group) is also required.

Foyer standees are the entry-level off-screen format — a branded standee placed in the lobby or near the entrance to the multiplex, which gets seen by every person entering or exiting the cinema. Pillar branding involves wrapping or partially branding the structural columns in the foyer, which creates a high-visibility, high-frequency touchpoint for anyone spending time in the common area. Audi-door branding — the branded panels placed on the doors of individual auditoriums — is a format we particularly recommend to clients who want to reach the audience at the precise moment of transition from the public space to the private screening experience; it is a premium spot in terms of attention, and the cost per impression works out to be surprisingly low. Digital plasma screens placed at strategic points in the Forum Mall cinema lobby allow for dynamic video content to run in a loop, which gives brands the flexibility to run different creatives at different times of day without any physical installation changes.

For brands with larger budgets or experiential objectives, the integrated lobby activation format is where Forum Mall cinema advertising really becomes interesting. We worked with a consumer electronics brand — a mid-sized player launching a new product line in Bangalore — who chose to combine a foyer standee with a kiosk activation near the ticket counter at Forum Mall Koramangala; over a four-week campaign duration, the activation generated over 3,200 direct product interactions and contributed to a measurable spike in the brand's regional sales data for Karnataka. The thing is, this kind of hyperlocal advertising impact is almost impossible to achieve through digital channels alone, because digital cannot guarantee that the person seeing the ad is physically present in your target catchment area at that moment.

How Much Does It Cost to Advertise at Forum Mall Cinema?

This is the question every media plan starts with, and to be honest, it is also the question that has the most variable answer — because Forum Mall cinema advertising rates depend on a combination of factors including the specific property, the format chosen, the campaign duration, the week type (regular, blockbuster, or mega-blockbuster), and whether the booking is made directly or through a media agency. That said, we can give you the kind of benchmarks that most rate cards will not publish openly.

For onscreen video advertising at Forum Mall Koramangala in Bangalore — which is the flagship and most-booked property in the network — a 30-second pre-show ad slot across all screens typically works out to somewhere in the ballpark of ₹80,000 to ₹1,20,000 per week during a regular week, depending on the number of screens booked and the specific show timings. The CPM for this format works out to roughly ₹180 to ₹250 per thousand impressions, which is a number that surprises most first-time advertisers when they compare it to what they are paying for Instagram reach — especially when you factor in the attention quality differential. Ad slide formats are priced more accessibly, typically in the range of ₹25,000 to ₹50,000 per week for the same property, which makes them a realistic entry point for smaller brands. At Forum Vijaya Mall in Chennai and Forum Courtyard Mall in Kolkata, rates tend to run slightly lower — somewhere between 15% and 25% below Bangalore benchmarks — reflecting the relative footfall and market tier differences between these properties.

Off-screen formats are priced separately and, in our experience, offer some of the best value in the Forum Mall cinema advertising ecosystem. A foyer standee at Forum Mall Koramangala runs in the ballpark of ₹15,000 to ₹30,000 per week; pillar branding and audi-door branding command somewhat higher rates, typically ₹40,000 to ₹80,000 per week depending on the number of panels and their positioning. Digital plasma screen advertising in the lobby is priced on a loop basis — a 10-second spot running in a 5-minute loop across lobby screens works out to roughly ₹20,000 to ₹45,000 per week at the Bangalore property. For clients considering a multi-week campaign combining onscreen and off-screen formats, we typically negotiate a package rate that can bring the blended cost down by 15% to 25% compared to buying each format individually — which is one of the practical advantages of working with a media agency that has existing relationships with PVR INOX's media sales team.

How Do Blockbuster and Mega-Blockbuster Weeks Affect My Ad Rates at Forum Mall?

The pricing structure for cinema advertising in India — and specifically at PVR INOX properties like Forum Mall — operates on a tiered week-type system, which is one of the most misunderstood aspects of the medium among first-time cinema advertisers. A regular week is simply any week without a major release; a blockbuster (BB) week is one where a significant Hindi, regional, or Hollywood film is releasing with strong advance booking numbers; and a mega-blockbuster (MBB) week is reserved for the biggest releases of the year — think a major Bollywood franchise film, a pan-India release with massive pre-release buzz, or a Hollywood event film. The premium for a blockbuster week over a regular week typically runs somewhere between 30% and 60% at Forum Mall properties; the mega-blockbuster premium can push rates to double or even two-and-a-half times the regular week base rate.

What this means practically is that a 30-second pre-show ad slot that costs ₹1,00,000 per week during a regular week might cost ₹1,40,000 to ₹1,60,000 during a blockbuster week, and upwards of ₹2,00,000 to ₹2,50,000 during a mega-blockbuster week. The justification for this premium is straightforward: footfall at Forum Mall cinemas during a blockbuster movie release can be two to three times higher than a regular week, which means the reach delivered per week is genuinely higher. However, the cost per reach does not always improve proportionally — and this is where we have seen brands make expensive mistakes. A brand that books a mega-blockbuster week expecting the same CPM as a regular week will often find that the premium paid exceeds the proportional reach gain, particularly if the blockbuster film skews toward a demographic that does not match the brand's target audience.

Our recommendation at SmartAds is to think about blockbuster and mega-blockbuster weeks strategically rather than reflexively. If you are a brand targeting youth — a fashion label, a quick-service restaurant, a streaming platform — then a mega-blockbuster week with a mass-appeal Bollywood release at Forum Mall Koramangala in Bangalore is genuinely worth the premium, because the audience composition during that week is highly aligned with your target. On the other hand, a B2B software brand or a niche luxury product would likely extract more value from a well-planned multi-week campaign during regular weeks, where the rates are lower and the audience is the everyday Forum Mall cinema-goer — which, as we will discuss, is still a remarkably premium demographic.

Which Forum Mall Cinema Locations Can You Advertise In Across India?

The Forum Mall network spans several major Indian cities, and the cinema advertising inventory at each property is managed through PVR INOX, which operates the multiplexes within these malls. Forum Mall Koramangala in Bangalore — located in one of the city's most affluent and commercially active neighbourhoods, drawing footfall from Koramangala, Adugodi, HSR Layout, and Indiranagar — is the anchor property and the one most frequently booked for cinema ad campaigns. The Koramangala location benefits from its position in a tech-hub catchment area, which means the audience skews heavily toward working professionals, startup employees, and high-income households; for brands targeting this demographic, it is genuinely one of the best cinema advertising properties in Karnataka.

Forum Vijaya Mall in Chennai, located in Vadapalani, is the flagship Forum Mall property in Tamil Nadu; the PVR INOX screens here draw a mix of family and youth audiences from across Chennai's western suburbs, and the property is particularly strong for regional language film releases — which means campaigns running during Tamil blockbuster weeks here can achieve exceptional reach within the Tamil Nadu market. Forum Courtyard Mall in Kolkata serves a similarly premium catchment in that city, while Forum Mall Kukatpally in Hyderabad covers a rapidly growing residential and commercial belt that has seen significant footfall growth over the past three years. Forum Centre City Mall in Mysore rounds out the network with a smaller but highly loyal local audience, and rates at this property are the most accessible in the network — making it an interesting option for brands wanting to test cinema advertising at Forum Mall before scaling to larger properties.

Beyond these primary locations, the Prestige Group continues to expand the Forum Mall network, and new properties in cities including Udaipur (Forum Mall Bhuwana) have added to the geographic spread of the advertising opportunity. What a lot of media planners miss is that booking across multiple Forum Mall properties simultaneously — a multi-city cinema ad campaign covering Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, and Hyderabad — can be negotiated as a network package through PVR INOX's central media sales team, which typically delivers better rates than booking each property individually. At SmartAds, we have executed several such multi-city campaigns for national brands, and the blended cost efficiency is consistently better than single-city buys at equivalent reach levels.

Who Is the Audience at Forum Mall Cinemas?

Frankly speaking, the audience profile at Forum Mall cinemas is the single most compelling argument for this medium — and it is the piece of data that most rate cards and media kits present in the most sanitised, least useful way. Based on our campaign experience across Forum Mall properties and the audience research data available through BARC and PVR INOX's own audience measurement systems, the Forum Mall cinema-goer skews strongly toward SEC A and SEC A+ households, with a median age somewhere between 22 and 38 years. This is not the mass-market multiplex audience you find at a standalone cinema in a Tier 2 city; this is an audience that has chosen to spend their leisure time and discretionary income at one of India's most premium mall environments, which tells you something meaningful about their purchasing power and lifestyle orientation.

Weekend footfall at Forum Mall Koramangala in Bangalore is estimated at somewhere between 40,000 and 60,000 visitors per weekend, with the cinema contributing a significant share of that traffic; the seating capacity across the PVR INOX screens at this property runs to several hundred seats per screen, with the multiplex typically operating four to six screens. The audience targeting possibilities within Forum Mall cinema advertising are more nuanced than most advertisers realise: by choosing specific show timings (morning shows versus evening shows versus late-night shows), specific days (weekdays versus weekends), and specific film genres or languages, a brand can meaningfully shift the demographic composition of the audience it reaches. A morning weekday show at Forum Mall tends to skew toward homemakers and retirees; an evening show on a Friday or Saturday skews heavily toward working professionals and couples; a regional language film release draws a more specific linguistic and cultural community.

For brands targeting family vs youth audiences specifically, the film genre and timing combination is the most effective lever available within Forum Mall cinema advertising. We worked with an education technology brand that wanted to reach parents of school-age children in Bangalore; by booking pre-show ads specifically during family-oriented film releases and weekend afternoon shows at Forum Mall Koramangala, the campaign achieved an audience targeting efficiency that would have been impossible to replicate through any digital channel at the same cost per qualified impression. The FICCI-EY Media & Entertainment Report has consistently noted that multiplex cinema audiences in premium mall environments over-index on education, income, and digital adoption — all of which makes Forum Mall cinema advertising a natural fit for categories like financial services, consumer technology, premium FMCG, automotive, and real estate.

What Are the Creative Specs and Censor Certificate Requirements?

Getting the creative right for Forum Mall cinema advertising is a technical process that catches a surprising number of first-time advertisers off guard, and we have seen campaigns delayed by two to three weeks simply because the creative was not prepared to the correct specifications. For onscreen video advertising at PVR INOX Forum Mall screens, the accepted delivery formats are DCP format and J2K format; the video must be mastered at a resolution of 2K (2048 x 1080 pixels) or 4K (4096 x 2160 pixels), with audio delivered in 5.1 surround sound at 48kHz. The file must be packaged as a DCP (Digital Cinema Package) and delivered with the corresponding KDM (Key Delivery Message) that authorises playback on the specific screens booked for the campaign duration.

The censor certificate requirement is non-negotiable and is one of the most frequently misunderstood aspects of cinema advertising in India. Any video advertisement intended for public exhibition on a cinema screen must hold a valid U or U/A certificate issued by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), which is commonly referred to as the Censor Board of India. This is a legal requirement under the Cinematograph Act, not a multiplex policy — and it applies to all video ads regardless of duration, content, or category. The censor certificate process typically takes somewhere between ten and twenty working days, which means it needs to be initiated well before the intended campaign start date; we have seen brands lose their booked blockbuster week slot because the censor certificate arrived two days after the film release. The inspection pass — a document issued by PVR INOX confirming that the delivered DCP has been technically verified and approved for playback — is a separate requirement from the censor certificate and is issued after the multiplex's technical team has reviewed the file.

For ad slide formats, the specifications are considerably simpler: a high-resolution JPEG or PNG image at a minimum resolution of 2048 x 858 pixels (scope aspect ratio) or 1998 x 1080 pixels (flat aspect ratio), delivered at least five working days before the campaign start date. Ad slides do not require a censor certificate, which makes them a faster and more accessible entry point for brands that need to move quickly. Off-screen formats like foyer standees and pillar branding require standard print production files — typically PDF or AI format at 300 DPI — and the production and installation are handled either by the brand's agency or by PVR INOX's approved vendor network. At SmartAds, we manage the entire creative specification and delivery process for our clients, which eliminates the risk of last-minute technical rejections that can derail a campaign.

How Do You Book a Cinema Advertising Campaign at Forum Mall Step by Step?

The booking process for Forum Mall cinema advertising runs through PVR INOX's centralised media sales team, and it is worth understanding the sequence clearly before you begin, because the lead times involved are longer than most digital media buys. The process typically begins with a media brief — defining the target city or cities (Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, or others in the Forum Mall network), the campaign duration, the format mix (onscreen video ad, ad slide, off-screen branding, or a combination), and the budget envelope. Based on this brief, the PVR INOX media team provides a rate card and availability confirmation, which forms the basis of the media plan.

Once the media plan is approved and the booking is confirmed with a purchase order, the creative delivery process begins in parallel. For onscreen video ads, the DCP format file and censor certificate must be delivered to PVR INOX's technical team at least seven to ten working days before the campaign start date; the inspection pass is then issued within two to three working days of technical review. For off-screen formats, production and installation timelines vary by format — a foyer standee can typically be installed within forty-eight hours of material delivery, while pillar branding or audi-door branding may require three to five days for installation. Payment terms for cinema advertising at PVR INOX properties typically require a percentage advance at the time of booking, with the balance due before the campaign goes live.

Working with a media agency like SmartAds simplifies this booking process considerably, because we maintain ongoing relationships with PVR INOX's media sales team across multiple cities and can often secure better availability and negotiated rates than a direct brand booking. On top of that, we handle the technical compliance process — DCP preparation, censor certificate tracking, inspection pass coordination — which removes the single biggest source of campaign delays. One automotive brand we worked with had previously attempted to book Forum Mall Koramangala directly and lost their preferred blockbuster week slot due to a technical rejection of their DCP file; when they came to us for the next campaign, we managed the entire process end-to-end and the campaign went live on the planned date with zero delays.

How Can You Measure the ROI of Your Forum Mall Cinema Ad Campaign?

ROI measurement for cinema advertising is an area where the industry has historically been weaker than digital channels, and to be fair, that gap has narrowed significantly over the past few years. The most basic measurement tool available for Forum Mall cinema advertising is the proof of play report, which PVR INOX provides as a standard deliverable for all onscreen campaigns; this document confirms the number of shows in which the ad was played, the screen number, the date and time, and the audience count per show, which allows for a straightforward calculation of total impressions delivered against the rate paid. The cost per reach calculation from this data typically confirms that cinema advertising at Forum Mall delivers impressions at a CPM that is competitive with premium digital formats — and significantly more competitive when audience attention quality is factored in.

Beyond the proof of play, the most useful ROI measurement approaches we recommend to clients involve pairing the cinema campaign with a digital retargeting layer. The logic is this: audiences who have been exposed to a brand's onscreen ad at Forum Mall can be retargeted through location-based digital advertising on their mobile devices, using geofencing technology that identifies devices present within the Forum Mall catchment area during the campaign period. This combined cinema plus digital retargeting approach creates a measurable attribution chain — the cinema ad builds awareness and brand recall, the digital retargeting converts that awareness into action, and the digital layer provides the click-through and conversion data that allows ROI to be calculated with precision. We have used this approach for several clients, including a real estate brand in Bangalore that ran a four-week campaign combining Forum Mall Koramangala onscreen advertising with geo-targeted mobile ads in the Koramangala and Adugodi catchment; the campaign generated a 3.2x higher lead quality score compared to standalone digital campaigns in the same period.

The GroupM TYNY Report and the Dentsu e4m Report have both noted in recent editions that cinema advertising in India delivers brand recall rates that are among the highest of any media format — with unaided recall for cinema ads running at somewhere between 70% and 85% in post-campaign surveys, compared to sub-30% figures for most digital display formats. For ROI cinema advertising calculations, this recall differential is a critical input that most media plans underweight; a brand that reaches 100,000 people with a cinema ad and achieves 75% recall has effectively delivered 75,000 brand-aware impressions, which is a very different outcome from reaching 100,000 people through a digital banner with 15% recall. At SmartAds, we build this recall-adjusted reach metric into our media planning models, which gives clients a more honest picture of the value they are getting from their Forum Mall cinema advertising investment.

Frequently Asked Questions About Forum Mall Cinema Advertising

Q: How much does it cost to advertise at Forum Mall cinema in Bangalore?

The cost of advertising at Forum Mall cinema in Bangalore — specifically the PVR INOX screens at Forum Mall Koramangala — varies by format, campaign duration, and week type. For a 30-second onscreen video ad running across all screens during a regular week, the rate works out to somewhere in the ballpark of ₹80,000 to ₹1,20,000 per week; ad slides are more accessible, typically in the range of ₹25,000 to ₹50,000 per week. Off-screen formats like foyer standees run from roughly ₹15,000 to ₹30,000 per week, while more prominent formats like pillar branding and audi-door branding command ₹40,000 to ₹80,000 per week. Blockbuster and mega-blockbuster weeks attract a premium of 30% to 150% over these base rates, depending on the release. Working with a media agency that has an existing rate card relationship with PVR INOX typically delivers 15% to 25% better pricing than direct booking.

Q: What is the minimum campaign duration for cinema advertising at Forum Mall?

The standard minimum campaign duration for onscreen advertising at Forum Mall PVR INOX properties is one week, which aligns with the weekly booking cycle that PVR INOX uses for its media inventory. However, for off-screen formats like foyer standees and lobby activations, the minimum booking period is often two weeks, reflecting the installation and de-installation logistics involved. For brands running a multi-week campaign — which we generally recommend for meaningful brand recall impact — a four-week booking is the most common starting point, and it is also the duration at which package pricing typically becomes available. Very short one-week campaigns can work for tactical purposes, such as a product launch or a promotional event coinciding with a specific film release, but they rarely deliver the frequency required to build durable brand recall.

Q: What are the on-screen ad formats available at Forum Mall PVR INOX?

Forum Mall PVR INOX screens support several onscreen advertising formats: the full video ad (30 seconds or 60 seconds) played as part of the pre-show reel before the film begins; the ad slide, which is a static or animated image displayed during the pre-show sequence; interval advertising, which plays during the break between halves for films that have an interval; and at select premium auditoriums, the 270-degree surround screen format which wraps the ad experience around the audience for maximum impact. All video ad formats require delivery in DCP format or J2K format with a valid censor certificate from the CBFC.

Q: What off-screen branding options are available at Forum Mall cinemas?

The off-screen advertising inventory at Forum Mall cinemas includes foyer standees placed at the entrance and common areas of the multiplex, pillar branding on structural columns in the lobby, audi-door branding on the doors of individual auditoriums, ticket counter branding adjacent to the box office, digital plasma screens in the lobby and concession areas, and integrated lobby activations that can include kiosk activation, sampling counters, and experiential brand setups. The availability and pricing of each format varies by property; Forum Mall Koramangala in Bangalore has the widest range of off-screen inventory, while smaller properties like Forum Centre City Mall in Mysore have more limited options.

Q: How do blockbuster and mega-blockbuster weeks affect my ad rates at Forum Mall?

Blockbuster (BB) weeks — defined by PVR INOX as weeks with a significant major release commanding strong advance bookings — typically attract a rate premium of 30% to 60% over the regular week base rate. Mega-blockbuster (MBB) weeks, reserved for the biggest releases of the year, can push rates to double or more the regular week rate. The premium is justified by the significantly higher footfall and audience numbers during these weeks; however, the cost per reach improvement is not always proportional to the premium paid, particularly if the blockbuster film's audience demographic does not align with the brand's target. We recommend evaluating blockbuster week bookings on a case-by-case basis rather than automatically assuming they represent better value.

Q: What creative specifications and formats are required for Forum Mall cinema ads?

For onscreen video ads, the required delivery format is DCP (Digital Cinema Package) or J2K, mastered at 2K or 4K resolution with 5.1 surround sound audio at 48kHz. The file must be accompanied by a KDM (Key Delivery Message) for the specific screens booked. For ad slides, a high-resolution JPEG or PNG at a minimum of 2048 x 858 pixels (scope) or 1998 x 1080 pixels (flat) is required. All video ads must hold a valid CBFC censor certificate before delivery. Off-screen print formats require PDF or AI files at 300 DPI. Creative materials should be delivered at least seven to ten working days before the campaign start date to allow for technical review and inspection pass issuance.

Q: Is a censor certificate mandatory for video ads at Forum Mall cinema?

Yes, a censor certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) is legally mandatory for any video advertisement intended for public exhibition on a cinema screen in India, under the provisions of the Cinematograph Act. This requirement applies to all advertisers without exception, regardless of the content, duration, or category of the ad. The certification process typically takes ten to twenty working days, and the certificate must be in hand before the DCP file is submitted for the inspection pass process at PVR INOX. Brands that skip or delay this step risk losing their booked campaign slot, particularly during high-demand blockbuster weeks when inventory is limited and alternative advertisers are waiting.

Q: How can I verify that my ad is being played at Forum Mall cinema?

PVR INOX provides a proof of play report as a standard deliverable for all onscreen advertising campaigns; this report details the specific shows in which the ad was played, the screen number, the date and time, and the audience count per show. For off-screen formats, physical verification through site visits or photographic evidence provided by the installation team is the standard practice. Brands running multi-week campaigns can request weekly proof of play reports to monitor delivery in near-real-time. At SmartAds, we review proof of play documentation as part of our campaign management process and flag any discrepancies to the PVR INOX team immediately; in cases where ads are confirmed as not played due to technical or operational issues, compensation in the form of additional playback slots or credit is typically negotiated.

Q: Can I target specific screens or shows at Forum Mall for my campaign?

Yes, PVR INOX's media booking system allows for screen-level and show-level targeting within Forum Mall properties, subject to availability. This means a brand can choose to run its onscreen advertising only during evening shows on weekends, or only on premium large-format screens, or only during shows of a specific film genre or language. This level of audience targeting is one of the more sophisticated capabilities of cinema advertising at Forum Mall, and it is significantly underutilised by most advertisers. Targeting specific screens or show types does affect pricing — premium screens and high-footfall show timings command higher rates — but the improvement in audience alignment can make this a worthwhile investment for brands with a clearly defined target demographic.

Q: Which cities have a Forum Mall cinema I can advertise in?

Forum Mall cinema advertising is currently available across several Indian cities: Bangalore (Forum Mall Koramangala, which is the flagship property), Chennai (Forum Vijaya Mall in Vadapalani), Kolkata (Forum Courtyard Mall), Hyderabad (Forum Mall Kukatpally), Mysore (Forum Centre City Mall), and Udaipur (Forum Mall Bhuwana), among others. The Prestige Group continues to expand the Forum Mall network, and new properties are added periodically. For brands wanting to run a multi-city cinema ad campaign across Forum Mall properties, a consolidated network booking through PVR INOX's central media sales team is the most efficient approach, and it typically delivers better rates than individual city bookings.

Q: How do I book a cinema advertising campaign at Forum Mall?

The booking process begins with a media brief submitted to PVR INOX's media sales team or through a media agency with PVR INOX booking access. The brief should specify the target Forum Mall property or properties, the desired campaign duration, the format mix, and the budget. PVR INOX provides a rate card and availability confirmation, which forms the basis of the media plan. Once the plan is approved and a purchase order is issued, the creative delivery process runs in parallel — DCP file preparation, censor certificate submission, and inspection pass coordination. Advance payment is typically required at booking, with the balance due before the campaign goes live. The entire process from brief to campaign launch typically takes three to four weeks for onscreen video ads, and two to three weeks for ad slide or off-screen formats.

Q: What is the audience profile of Forum Mall cinema-goers?

Forum Mall cinema audiences skew strongly toward SEC A and SEC A+