Many of the feature films which have been released in theatres and on the OTT platform after the lockdown have one thing in common. They are lengthy films , way passed the 2-hour length perceived as acceptable by the movie business.
The Taapsee Pannu murder thriller Haseena Dillruba which premiered on Netflix in July was 2 hours and 16 minutes long.Rakeysh Mehra boxing drama Toofaan on Amazon Video Prime ran into 2 hours and 42 minutes. Priyadarshan comedy Hungama 2 clocked at 2 hours and 36 minutes(comedies are never more known to exceed two hours).
Kriti Sanon’s surrogacy drama Mimi released in August was 2 hours 13 minutes whereas Amazon’s blockbuster Shershah clocked it at 2 hours 15 minutes ;the Amitabh Bachchan thriller Chehre was 2 hours and 13 minutes long.The Jayalalitha bio-pic Thailavi was 2 hours 32 minutes long.
The recently released Sardar Udham is 2 hours and 42 minutes long and the next big Bollywood release Sooryavanshi is almost 3 hours long. Even some of big Hollywood and regional Indian films released in recent months, like Dune, The Last Duel, No Time To Die , the Tamil Sarpatta Parambarai, Master, Mandela , the Malayalam Vellam,Nayattu, One and The Priest and the Telugu stand-out films Love Story and Konda Polam …all are closer to 3 hours rather than 2.
Are we seeing the return of lengthy films the worldover?
Trade analyst and film critic Taran Aadrash says, “I distinctly remember, in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, most Hindi films had a run time of almost 2.45 hours or even 3 hours plus. Those days, a look at the censor certificate and noticing the number of reels, people would whistle and clap with joy and happiness, but times have changed today. Most viewers prefer shorter duration movies, to-the-point narrative, no unwanted song-and-dance routine and more emphasis on content”
Taran says the playing time of a film must be dependent on the content. “The run time could be 1.30 hours or 2 hours and viewers will still appreciate it, if the content is strong enough. Even if the run time is 2.30 hours plus and the film manages to hold your attention, great. The bottom line is content. If the content is strong enough, the run time of 3 hours is also less, but if the content is weak, even a short film becomes unbearable.”
Adds filmmaker producer-director Suneel Darshan, “The length of a film is often determined by various compulsions… In the pre-liberalisation era there was additional excise imposed on a movie when its length exceeded 4000metres(approx. 2hrs 20mins)… In the Multiplex era a movie gets lesser shows when it’s playtime exceeds 2hrs15mins as they advertising and cafeteria revenues earned by the exhibitors are lucrative which gets a priority in determining the allotment of shows.”