The Legacy of Length in Indian Cinema
Indian audiences have long embraced extended runtimes, from Sholay to modern blockbusters proving that when a story earns its scale, duration only deepens emotional and narrative impact.
Indian cinema has repeatedly proven that long runtimes aren't a barrier, when the story expands, the impact intensifies. From Gadar 2 to Dhurandhar, these films show how duration can elevate emotion, scale and storytelling.
Indian audiences have long embraced extended runtimes, from Sholay to modern blockbusters proving that when a story earns its scale, duration only deepens emotional and narrative impact.
The sequel thrives on nostalgia, patriotism and intense family bonds. Its length allows the father–son arc and the emotional reunions to breathe, making the payoff far more powerful.
Not driven by plot but psychology, the film’s duration lets viewers sit inside the chaos of Ranbir Kapoor’s character, his rage, love, contradictions and destructive moral code while Vanga mounts operatic confrontations and stylish set-pieces.
The runtime becomes central to the experience. Arjun’s heartbreak, addiction and messy healing unfold with raw continuity. A shorter cut would lose the emotional X-ray quality that defines the film.
The sequel expands the world massively—politics, gang dynamics, betrayals and the myth of Pushpa Raj himself. The bigger stunts, emotions and heroism thrive because the film refuses to be rushed.
Aditya Dhar’s ensemble thriller featuring Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, R. Madhavan, Arjun Rampal and Sara Arjun spins covert ops, political intrigue and shifting loyalties across a dense narrative web. The prolonged runtime isn’t indulgent but essential for its layered storytelling.
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