Kabzaa runtime: Netizens wonder if R Chandru’s film is too short for effective story-telling

OTTplay had earlier reported that R Chandru’s Kabzaa – The Rise of Gangsters would have a 2 hour 25 minute runtime. But it now turns out that after the censor certification, where it was awarded U/A, the film is even shorter and is all of 2 hours and 16 minutes only. This makes the Upendra-led gangster flick the shortest pan-India film in recent times. KGF: Chapter 2 was 2 hours 48 minutes, while Vikrant Rona was 2 hours and 27 minutes. The overseas version is shorter by 2 minutes, we hear.

While a shorter runtime could only mean that the screenplay will be racy, netizens are a tad worried if the film has been cut a tad too short. “At 2 hours 16 minutes, Kabzaa’s screenplay not only has to establish Arkeshwara’s (Upendra) narrative, but also account for its massive ensemble cast and a few songs. Feels too tight a timeline,” wrote one user. “#Kabzaa Runtime : 2hr 16m. Trailer nodi story complicated irutte ankonde Runtime is too short 🚶expecting Racy screenplay,” wrote Shreyas. Yet another echoed this and said, “Based on the trailer I was expecting the film to be close to three hours at least. This feels too short.” Many opined that 2 hours 30 minutes would have been the ideal length.

There were some who thought that the short length may actually work in Kabzaa’s favour. A Twitter user wrote, “I think the runtime of Kabzaa is just perfect. If it is too long, audiences may feel that the narrative is lagging at points. If the screenplay is fast, new-age audiences will connect to the film.

According to Chandru and leading man Upendra, the film’s narrative spans nearly five decades, beginning in pre-Independence era and going into the 80s. Also, Upendra has classified the film as an out-and-out action entertainer, which makes Kabzaa’s runtime feel short.