Most lengthy hindi movies: Bollywood Masala: Bollwood Gyan

Our Hollywood cousins call their movies long when they stretch over the 90-minute mark. But here, in India, we're used to long films. Two-hour English extravaganzas are considered excessive, while the average Hindi flick regularly clocks in at about 3 hours, songs and all.

Sometimes though, even that isn't enough. Here's a look at some really, really long movies, stretching comfortably beyond the 200-minute mark, even nearing four hours.

List of longest films in India in Hindi by running time

S.No	NAME OF THE TITLE	RUNNING TIME	YEAR RELEASED
1	Mera Naam Joker	255 mins.	1970
2	LOC Kargil	255 mins.	2005
3	Sangam	238 mins.	1964
4	Hum Saath-Saath Hain: We Stand United	228 mins.	1999
5	Lagaan	224 mins.	2001
6	Khatarnak	223 mins.	1990
7	Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero	222 mins.	2005
8	Mohabbatein	216 mins.	2000
9	Salaam-E-Ishq	216 mins.	2007
10	Narasimha	214 mins.	1991
11	Saudagar	213 mins.	1991
12	Jodhaa Akbar	213 mins.	2008
13	Indrasabha	211 mins.	1932
14	Khoon Pasina	210 mins.	1976
15	Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham	210 mins.	2001

 Sangam (1964, 3 hours, 58 minutes)

Considered one of Raj Kapoor's finest films, Sangam stars the filmmaker in a love triangle with Vyajayantimala and Rajendra Kumar. The romantic drama of close friends torn apart by secret love and consequences remains one of the most memorable blockbusters of the sixties.

The length: While the four-hour duration is undeniably exhausting, the film boasts a truly compelling story and performances strong enough to keep the viewer going. With the plot including being drafted into the army, the assumption of death and ultimately a wedding, the length almost seems justified -- helping us feel Vyajantimala's eventual resignation.

Waqt (1965, 3 hours, 26 minutes)

Yash Chopra's 41-year old epic took its title literally as it told the story of three brothers -- Sunil Dutt, Raj Kumar and Shashi Kapoor -- separated by an earthquake as children and brought up in entirely different circumstances. A very well-crafted film.

The length: Thanks to the director's stylised finesse, length wasn't even an issue with Waqt. While time didn't fly, the film was impressively tight enough to stay right on track. The top-notch performances certainly helped.

Mera Naam Joker (1970, 4 hours, four minutes)

That Raj Kapoor liked his sagas long was no secret, but he outdid himself with this melodramatic story of a circus clown. Audiences at the time didn't buy into the two-interval film and it bombed. But, a few decades later, Mera Naam Joker is looked on with fond affection for the great showman.

The length: Like three films strung together back to back, the greasepaint tales of Raju the clown were always too long for a single shot. Add that it was a heartbreakingly tragic film and you get something that exhausts both handkerchiefs and viewers.

Sholay (1975, 3 hours, 24 minutes)

The most magnum of our opuses. It just stands to reason that the biggest Hindi film of all time also be one of its longest. Ramesh Sippy's immortal Western did it all, and sure took its own sweet time.

The length: The irrepressible Veeru. Cool Jai. Thakur, bitter and arm-less. Basanti and her conversation. Samba. A trick coin. A jailer who'd served under the English. And a villain called Gabbar. Nope, if there is any complaint to be made about the length of Sholay, it's just that we wistfully crave it were even longer.

Hum Aapke Hain Koun (1994, three hours, 26 minutes)

Who knew Indian audiences could do without a bad guy? Sooraj Barjatya did, and hit pay dirt with this mega-family hit, casting Madhuri Dixit and Salman Khan in our all-time greatest money-spinner. India was then reeling from an outbreak of the plague, but it didn't matter -- 'twas wedding season.

The length: A long film, but with a warm cast and a bunch of hit songs, Barjatya managed to authentically recreate the flavour of a North Indian wedding. The film left a lasting influence (10-day shaadis and purple sari knockoffs, among others) and managed to pull off the length quite nicely.

Lagaan (2001, three hours, 44 minutes)

Five years ago, Ashutosh Gowariker had the bright idea of combining India's two primary passions: Cricket and cinema. It wasn't as if it hadn't been done in the past, but this was the first good cricket film, liberally dosed with anti-colonial patriotism, and it starred Aamir rarely-seen Khan. The result? Millions, and an Oscar nod.

The length: That game has made patient morons out of us, honestly; we even sit up to watch 5-day test matches played in faraway lands. So, Lagaan was never going to be too much of a stretch, and it's fabulous XI-man ensemble had us cheering from the aisles.

LOC: Kargil (2003, 4 hours, 15 minutes)

After the success of JP Dutta's Border, most actors were dying to work with the patriotic director, and every star son in the industry readily signed on for this mammoth effort to document the Kargil battle.

The length: In an effort to give each cast member a back story, LOC:Kargil became a tedious, song-filled production with no real highlight -- except the dubious distinction of being the longest Hindi film ever. We say 'dubious' because it made every minute seem longer.

Swades (2004, 3 hours, 30 minutes)

After earning directorial credentials with Lagaan, Ashu Gowariker hit the village roads again with a mega-hyped film (Shah Rukh Khan starred, therefore...) about an Indian NASA engineer realising his country needs him more. SRK won acting plaudits, but the film sank like a stone, despite some positive reviews.

The length: A sincere, earnest project, this film had tremendous potential, but lazy pace and documentary-style realism needs a far tighter script to fly. Bollywood never required an editor more.

Bose: The Forgotten Hero (2005, 3 hours, 28 minutes)

Legendary director Shyam Benegal, now big-budget. With the mammoth Bose, he broached the powerful subject of Netaji Subhash Bose, an iconic freedom fighter mostly ignored by Bollywood. Sachin Khedekar looked good in the role and, given Benegal's track record of historical films, this was all set to be great. Sadly, it fell far short.

The length: Jokes aside, the basic problem with Bose is it actually looks unedited. Unfocussed scenes are pasted disjointedly together, and there is no attempt at restraint -- this must have made for a really clean cutting-room floor. Followers of Bose decried the historical inaccuracy, even as the rest of the audience stifled a yawn.

Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006, 3 hours, 35 minutes)

With critics either savaging or loving Karan Johar's latest film, the jury's still out on whether audiences truly enjoyed KANK or were done in by all the hype. All we can say for sure is that the film, a drama about marriage and infidelity, sure takes its time getting to the point.

The length: Even the kindest of reviewers feel Johar went overboard with KANK's length. Also, considering it doesn't really have anything 'new' to offer -- with even the actors doing their 'usual' roles -- it ends up a marathon film that keeps making you look longingly at your wristwatch.

 

      Friendship Day 2015

      Sunday, August 2

 

 

 



Friendship Day was first established in 1935 when the United States Congress dedicated the first Sunday of August every year as Friendship Day, and this year it takes place on 2 August 2015.

International Friendship Day is a day for celebrating friendship. The day has been celebrated in several southern South American countries for many years, particularly in Paraguay, where the first World Friendship Day was proposed in 1958.

Following the popularity of this annual event in the US, a large number of other countries, including India, also adopted Friendship Day to celebrate the importance of friends, making this a truly international friendship day.

On this day people spend time together, exchange gifts, cards and wrist bands to proclaim their friendship to each other.  In 1997, the United Nations named Winnie the Pooh as the world's Ambassador of Friendship.

Top 10 Reasons Why Friends are Important

 

 

1)    To spend time and enjoy

2)    To be in your comfort zone

3)    To give you honest opinions

4)    To share secrets and other things, being loyal

5)    To Help and support you

6)    To unconditionally love and care for you

7)    To learn life lessons and respect differences

8)    To offer you fresh perspective

9)    To boost self esteem and gain confidence

 

    10) To grow individually

A close friend is a mirror of your own self, someone with whom you realize that, though autonomous, you are not alone. Friendship is also important because it “cultivates the virtues, such as creativity and compassion, which are essential to a flourishing society”. If we cultivate friendship, we can “lift some of the burden from our apparently unhappy, isolated selves”.

 

 

Top 5 Reasons Why We Need Friends?

 

 

 

 

 

1.      Friends never judge you

One of the good things about friends is that they never judge you. They will never interrupt you or ask any questions regarding whatever you are doing or want to do in your life. On the contrary, they will always support you and appreciate you for what you are doing. Friends always help you and serve you without asking for your money, reward or any dues.

2. Friends never leave you alone

Friends are like shadows that will always be with you. If you are feeling sad or lonely, they would try to make you feel happy with their company. They would do anything to make you laugh when you are crying. They are the ones who, when you are silent, would sit beside you and start talking. They would not let you be sad and demoralized.

3. Friends always listen to you

The other important thing about friends is that they always listen to you when you are in a bad situation because they know that in their difficult times you would be there for them. You would make yourself available for them as they have done for you. With friends, you can share your stuff. You can share your ideas, experiences of life and you can solve each other’s problems.

4. Friends always encourage you

Friends are the ones who always keep you happy. They will always motivate you to achieve your goal in life and they’ll even help you in achieving that goal. They will encourage you. They can’t say ‘no’ for anything.

5. Friends are trustworthy

You can trust your friends completely. You can share anything with them. Friends are the ones with whom you can share your personal things and they will not breach your trust. Only friends will feel happy when you achieve success. In this fast running world and cut-throat competition, only a good friend can be the greatest source of relief.

What Friendship Really Is?

 

 

 

 

“A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter; he who finds one finds a treasure. Faithful friends are beyond price, no amount can balance their worth.”

 

HAPPY FRIENDSHIP DAY