Archive · 15 Dec 2025
Tamas is India's longest film by runtime
The longest Indian film by runtime is Tamas, which is over 5 hours long.
It was originally made for TV but was later shown as a full movie.
It tells the story of the Partition of India and the suffering that happened during that time.
Other long Indian movies include LOC Kargil, Mera Naam Joker, and Gangs of Wasseypur.
These movies are known for their long runtimes and have been well-received by audiences and critics.
Tamas (1987) is the longest Indian film by runtime, lasting over 5 hours and 20 minutes.
It was originally a TV miniseries for Doordarshan and later presented as a full feature film at international festivals.
Tamas is based on a book by Bhisham Sahni and depicts the violence and suffering during the Partition of India.
Other notable long Indian films include LOC Kargil (255 minutes), Mera Naam Joker (244 minutes), and Gangs of Wasseypur (319 minutes).
Gangs of Wasseypur was released in two parts due to its length but is available in full at international film festivals and digital platforms.
- Who
- Govind Nihalani (director), Bhisham Sahni (author of the book)
- What
- Tamas is a film depicting the violence and suffering during the Partition of India
- When
- 1987 (original airing as a TV miniseries)
- Where
- India (originally aired on Doordarshan, later shown at international film festivals)
- Why
- To portray the historical and emotional impact of the Partition of India
- Longest Indian Film by Runtime
- Tamas (1987) - 320 minutes
- Director of Tamas
- Govind Nihalani
- Inspiration for Tamas
- Book by Bhisham Sahni
- Original Medium of Tamas
- Television miniseries for Doordarshan
- Other Long Indian Films
- LOC Kargil (255 min), Mera Naam Joker (244 min), Gangs of Wasseypur (319 min)