While Vignesh Shivan agrees that an interval block is the main highpoint in Indian cinema, he opines that some films do not need that break. “For instance, I thought Aram (2017) might have been even better if it did not have an interval as it would have kept the tension intact. Similarly, when Ashwin narrated the script of Connect, I felt there was no necessity for an interval. The film continually builds to a crescendo. An interval would also make it difficult to get the audience back to the film’s atmosphere and scare them once again. An Annamalai (1992) which is a super commercial film demands an interval. The intermission will heighten the mood and create anticipation for the second half. But Connect runs at a brisk pace and the grip is maintained throughout,” says the producer.
However, the makers faced huge opposition from theatre owners and distributors who demanded an interval. So, , the makers have said that the theatre owners can decide on whether or not to have a break. If there is an intermission, the first half can be stopped at 59 minutes 49 seconds and the second half will run for the remaining 40 minutes.