Rajamouli’s upcoming film with Mahesh Babu is set to have a runtime of three and a half hours. This decision aligns with the growing trend in Indian cinema, where long-duration films are proving to be commercially successful.
Movies like Sundeep Vanga's 'Animal' and Sukumar's 'Pushpa' have already demonstrated that a lengthy runtime does not hinder audience engagement; both exceeded the three-hour mark and emerged as box office hits.
This success of those films given Rajamouli the confidence to maintain his desired length without compromise.
In contrast, director Sukumar’s experience with 1-Nenokkadine (2014) served as a lesson. Initially, the film had a runtime exceeding three hours, but fearing audience reception, he trimmed it down, which ultimately disrupted the viewing experience and led to its commercial failure.
However, Sukumar adopted a different approach with Pushpa, ensuring the film retained its essence despite a lengthy runtime of 3 hours and 21 minutes.
With major filmmakers embracing extended runtimes, it’s evident that long-duration films are becoming the new norm.
Audiences can expect more epic storytelling with extended narratives in the coming years.
