Longest Movie in India: Bollywood’s Marathon Epic

Think you’ve sat through a long Bollywood movie before? Wait till you hear about the actual champion. While most of us start fidgeting after three hours, there’s a film in India that casually clocks in at over five hours. And, believe it or not, people still watched it in the cinema.

Everyone loves talking about massive box office hits and star-studded casts, but the real conversation starter is this epic runtime. If you’ve ever wondered how long a movie can really get—and why anyone would make it so long—this is where things get interesting.

You don’t have to wade through random lists or sketchy YouTube videos to find the answer. The movie that sits on top is not only long, it’s also critically acclaimed and has a wild backstory. Before you sign up for a full day of movie marathoning with your friends, let’s break down what makes this record-breaking film so unique and why it’s on every Bollywood trivia fan’s radar.

• Breaking the Record: Which Indian Movie is the Longest?
• Gangs of Wasseypur: The Epic That Changed Bollywood
• Why Make Such a Long Movie?
• How Audiences Reacted
• Tips for Watching a Marathon-Length Film
• Other Surprisingly Long Bollywood Movies

Breaking the Record: Which Indian Movie is the Longest?

So you want to know which movie holds the crown for longest Indian movie? No, it’s not Lagaan, and nope, not Devdas either. The winner here is Gangs of Wasseypur. This film isn’t just long by Indian standards, it’s up there in the global cinema marathon club too. Directed by Anurag Kashyap, the full cut of Gangs of Wasseypur runs for a jaw-dropping 321 minutes—that’s 5 hours and 21 minutes. This basically turns your movie night into an all-day event.

Now here’s the interesting part: for most of us, this crime saga came out in two separate parts. The release was actually split in Indian cinemas because, come on, no one wants to test their bladder for that long. But at film festivals like Cannes, the audience got the entire story in one go.

Check out how the runtime stacks up compared to some familiar Bollywood giants:

As you can see, nothing else comes close to the mammoth runtime of Gangs of Wasseypur. Anurag Kashyap pretty much redefined what a Bollywood marathon looks like. When asked about this ambitious project, he said:

"I just couldn’t bring myself to cut the story because it would lose its depth and madness. So we decided to go for it—all five-plus hours."
– Anurag Kashyap, Rediff interview

This film doesn’t just break the record; it shatters the usual idea of how long Bollywood stories can be told on screen. And if you ask someone who’s watched the whole thing in one sitting, it’s less like a movie and more like a movie-watching adventure.

Gangs of Wasseypur: The Epic That Changed Bollywood

If you ask hardcore Bollywood fans about the longest Indian movie, "Gangs of Wasseypur" pops up every single time. Here’s the wild part: it's over five hours long, but it’s actually split into two parts for theaters. But at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival, it was screened as one massive film — all 320 minutes of it. That’s five hours and 20 minutes! It’s not some obscure art project either. It’s a legendary crime drama full of revenge, dark humor, and unforgettable characters.

Directed by Anurag Kashyap and starring Manoj Bajpayee, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, and Richa Chadha, "Gangs of Wasseypur" totally flipped what people thought Bollywood movies could be. Instead of usual musicals and romance, this one dives deep into coal mafia politics in Bihar, spanning three generations. It’s raw, gritty, and nothing like your typical Hindi film.

Why split it into two parts for most audiences? Few theaters will run anything over three hours, so the makers decided to release it as "Gangs of Wasseypur Part 1" and "Part 2". But, watch it all together and you’re signing up for an epic ride that outlasts pretty much any other mainstream movie from India.

Here’s a comparison to show how much longer it really is:

"Gangs of Wasseypur" is still the record-holder for movie runtime record in mainstream Indian cinema. Despite not having huge box office numbers at first, it picked up a cult following and is regularly called the best crime epic Bollywood has ever made.

If you’re thinking about giving it a shot, block off a whole afternoon—or even a day. For Bollywood fans, it’s now a badge of honor to say, “Yeah, I watched the full thing in one go.”

Why Make Such a Long Movie?

This is the kind of question that pops up every time someone hears about the longest Indian movie. Was it just for show? Not really. There are specific reasons why a Bollywood movie might end up with this kind of marathon runtime.

Take Gangs of Wasseypur, for example. The director, Anurag Kashyap, didn’t want to break up the story because it covered multiple generations, real-life crime families, and decades of change in one small Indian town. In interviews, Kashyap explained that chopping it into small pieces just wouldn't do justice to the characters and the epic saga he wanted to tell. The first rough cut? It was over eight hours long! The movie was then split into two parts for Indian cinemas, but at the Cannes Film Festival in 2012, they screened the full thing in one go for over five hours—no joke.

Here are a few reasons why some movies push their length:

• Deep Storytelling: Sometimes, there’s just too much history and drama to squeeze into a usual two-hour slot.
• Attention to Detail: Directors want to show complex characters, time jumps, and every little twist without rushing.
• Bigger Impact: Long movies often leave a bigger mark, grabbing attention at international film festivals and bringing in massive buzz.

This isn’t just for bragging rights. In fact, Gangs of Wasseypur snagged a spot on several ‘best of’ lists and is studied in film schools. Here’s a quick look at the numbers to put things into perspective:

Directors aim for Bollywood movies that are big on story and experience, not just runtime. The length happens when there’s a story that simply can’t be trimmed down without losing what makes it special.

How Audiences Reacted

So, how did people actually deal with watching a longest Indian movie that goes on for over five hours? A lot of them had no idea what they were signing up for. When Gangs of Wasseypur first hit the big screen at the Cannes Film Festival in 2012, critics and audiences were split—some loved every gritty second, while others thought it was just too much to sit through in one go.

Back home in India, most theaters showed the film in two separate parts (Part 1 and Part 2 released about a month apart), because expecting a regular audience to watch a movie marathon like this just isn’t practical. The two-part release made things easier, but serious movie buffs still tried to binge-watch both parts together on special occasions, like late-night movie marathons or film festivals.

At the time, movie forums were flooded with funny and honest stories from people who tried to watch both parts back-to-back. Some bragged about surviving the full Bollywood runtime, while others joked about just needing frequent tea breaks, bathroom trips, and snack runs to make it through. Indians are basically pro-level when it comes to watching long movies, but even then, five hours isn’t something you do every day.

The response from critics was actually pretty wild too. Gangs of Wasseypur got standing ovations at Cannes (the French love a good gangster saga, apparently). Reviewers called it groundbreaking, but they also admitted it was an endurance test. In fact, here’s a quick look at audience and critic responses that really sum things up:

If you’re planning to watch both parts in one sitting, plan your snacks and breaks, because even Bollywood die-hards say watching the longest movie in India back-to-back is pretty much a rite of passage.

Tips for Watching a Marathon-Length Film

Sitting through the longest Indian movie is nothing like your usual movie night. You’ll want to prep. Here’s what seasoned film buffs recommend if you’re going to tackle a five-hour epic like Gangs of Wasseypur.

• Plan Snack Breaks: One big rookie mistake? Forgetting snacks. This isn’t the time for just popcorn. Keep light, non-greasy eats close—think sandwiches, dry fruits, or even a couple of instant noodles for intermission vibes.
• Stay Hydrated, But Not Too Much: You don’t want to be running to the restroom every 30 minutes. Water is a must, but don’t overdo it. If you’re watching with friends, try to time your breaks together.
• Pick a Comfy Spot: Sofas win. Floor pillows are fine for an hour, but for a marathon-length film you need back support and room to stretch your legs.
• Divide Into Parts If Needed: Even diehard fans sometimes split movies this long over two sittings. Gangs of Wasseypur itself was originally released in two parts, which makes it simple to take a real break if you need one.
• Keep Distractions Away: Phones on silent. Door closed. This keeps you in the story and actually lets you enjoy the epic nature of the film.
• Invite Friends: Watching a super-long film alone gets boring fast. With friends, you can joke around, predict twists, and share the “wow, this is still going?” moment together.

Curious about how most people manage? Here’s a snapshot from surveys done at Mumbai’s cinemas during the original release of Gangs of Wasseypur:

Last tip: give yourself permission to pause or even walk around every couple of hours. Your focus (and your back) will thank you. Long movies are a whole experience—embrace it, don’t just endure it.

Other Surprisingly Long Bollywood Movies

When folks think about the longest Indian movie, they usually land on the obvious heavyweight. But Bollywood has a knack for testing our attention spans, and frankly, these films deserve their own shout-out.

Check out some other movies that went big on runtime—none as mammoth as "Gangs of Wasseypur," but pretty wild anyway:

• Mera Naam Joker (1970) – This Raj Kapoor classic is just over 4 hours long. For years, it held the record as Bollywood's lengthiest film. The run time was a big deal back then, and people legit showed up with lunch boxes.
• Sangam (1964) – Another Raj Kapoor movie that crosses the 3.5-hour mark. Back then, long movies were sort of the norm, but “Sangam” took it up a notch.
• LOC: Kargil (2003) – A modern war drama that’s nearly four hours. Not an easy watch in one go, but it packs in a lot of storylines and star power.
• Lagaan (2001) – Just shy of 4 hours, this cricket saga starring Aamir Khan was a stamina test but totally worth it for fans and even got a nod at the Oscars.
• Mother India (1957) – Another old-school hit that runs way longer than today's standard Bollywood flick—almost 3 hours.

Just to give you a quick snapshot, here’s how some of these long movies stack up:

So, if you’re thinking of settling in for a Bollywood marathon, these movies aren’t for the faint-hearted. Pro tip: plan breaks, get comfortable, and make sure your snacks don’t run out. If you love spotting trivia or smashed records, these marathon stories should be on your watchlist. In the world of Bollywood, there’s always another epic just waiting to test your patience—and maybe yours, too.

Sienna Hawthorne

I am an entertainment journalist with a passion for Indian cinema. Writing allows me to dive deep into the diverse world of film, and I often explore the cultural nuances and storytelling aspects of Bollywood and regional films. My work involves interviewing filmmakers, attending screenings, and reviewing the narrative techniques that shape modern Indian cinema.