On June 10, the Consumer Redressal Commission for Chennai North reportedly directed the event management company ACTC Events to pay a compensation amount of Rs 50,000 to a petitioner who had bought tickets to AR Rahman’s 2023 concert. The petitioner, KR Arjun, was among the many fans who had not been able to attend the concert, despite having valid tickets, due to large-scale mismanagement that led to overcrowding, a stampede-like situation and even allegations of molestation. At the time, ACTC had promised refunds to ticket holders.
However, nearly two years later, many fans say they are still fighting for their promised refunds.
The concert, titled ‘Marakkuma Nenjam’ (can the heart forget), was held on September 10, 2023, on Palace Road in Adityaram Nagar located on Chennai’s East Coast Road (ECR). Hours into the concert, fans at the venue had taken to social media, saying many were injured while trying to enter the venue amid surging crowds. There were allegations of children being separated from their families, and several women said that they were molested. Tambaram Police Commissioner Amalraj had also TNM that ACTC appeared to have sold more tickets than the capacity of the venue.
Still fuming, fans now allege on social media that ACTC Events remains negligent about processing their refunds.
TNM reached out to one such fan, Sreenivas. “I have received a partial refund. I am yet to receive Rs 6000 from ACTC Events,” said Sreenivas, who added that he had booked 16 tickets in total.
Recalling the event as “a horrible experience”, Parthi Kannan, an avid concertgoer, said, “I invited my parents, who live in Thanjavur, for the concert and even booked a hotel for them. On the day of the concert, I booked a cab for everyone. We left Vadapalani at 02:00 pm. It was 08:00 pm by the time we reached the location. Adityaram Palace is 1.5 to 2 kilometres off the main road. It was difficult to reach the venue even by foot [due to the crowds]. How could we take a car there? We didn’t want to take the risk of taking senior citizens through the crowd, so only my friend and I walked to Adityaram Palace.
When asked whether he still hopes to get his refund, Parthi said, “Most of us have given up. But it is unacceptable that we paid for a ticket and could not even enter the venue. Thousands of people came to the concert on that day. Not everyone has the time and resources to try and get their refunds.
In 2023, days after the concert, ticket holders received an automated email from ACTC saying, “Our team is in the process of reimbursing the amount you spent and has also prepared a surprise for you.
Referring to this email, some said on social media that they are still waiting for the said surprise.
“Marakkuthu Nenjam” (the heart has forgotten), said one X user—a play on words on the concert’s title and ACTC’s alleged failure to refund fans.
ACTC did not respond to TNM’s queries at the time of filing this article.