OTT sensation Jitendra Kumar (Panchayat, Kota Factory) is all set for his next release – the Netflix sports comedy drama movie ‘Jaadugar’, which is set to stream on the OTT platform from 15th July onwards. Although the film has attracted the attention of OTT audiences for all the right reasons, there is one potential reason as to why ‘Jaadugar’ might not click with the viewers. And it’s the film’s runtime, an important parameter which should never be underestimated.
As per Jaadugar’s Netflix page, the movie’s precise runtime is 2 hours and 46 minutes, which is much longer than most of the recent and successful films which belonged to a similar genre. In case we consider some of the critically or commercially well-received comedy drama films from 2022, majority of those films have a shorter length compared to ‘Jaadugar’.
For instance, the second highest grossing Hindi movie ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2’ has a runtime of 2 hours and 21 minutes on Netflix. Similarly, ‘Badhaai Do’ has a runtime of 2 hours and 27 minutes, and ‘Sharmaji Namkeen’ is 1 hour and 59 minutes long on Amazon Prime Video.
So, the point is, the relatively longer runtime of 2 hours and 46 minutes for Netflix’s ‘Jaadugar’ might prove to be a major deterrent for Gen-X OTT audiences who are known for their short attention spans owing to their ultra-busy lives.
Another school of thought might opine that some of the biggest blockbuster movies of 2022 namely ‘RRR’ (3 hours and 5 minutes), ‘KGF: Chapter 2’ (165 minutes), and ‘Vikram’ – they all had longer runtimes and yet, were massively successful. However, all these films were backed by a stupendous star cast and helmed by highly regarded filmmakers. Moreover, they were all theatrical releases, hence incomparable with a comparatively small direct-to-OTT film like ‘Jaadugar’.
For Netflix’s ‘Jaadugar’ to hold on to the attention of OTT viewers for the whole 2 hours and 46 minutes, the film’s screenplay, the performances, and most importantly the execution must be spot on. Having said that, from the film’s trailer, our hopes are high, and fingers crossed that ‘Jaadugar’ will excel in all three departments and the film’s longer runtime will turn out to be an enjoyable asset instead of a damper for OTT viewers. So, the film’s runtime can be a double-edged sword for Netflix.
About the film
Directed by Sameer Saxena, the Netflix film ‘Jaadugar’ revolves around a small-time struggling magician named Magic Meenu (played by Jitendra Kumar), who lives in Neemuch town in MP. Despite no interest in sports, Meenu must now lead a down and out football team and win the coveted inter-colony football tournament – in order to marry his love interest (Arushi Sharma). The movie also features Jaaved Jaafery in an important role of a sports coach.
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