Vijay starrer “The Greatest of All Time” (GOAT) has been one of the most talked about and most awaited Tamil action thrillers of the year 2024. Directed by director Venkat Prabhu, the film features Vijay in a double role and the story is based on an emotional and thrilling journey that touches the depths of patriotism, family ties and revenge. The film begins with a mysterious mission and an anti-terrorism squad (SATS) that suddenly brings a storm in the life of an officer named Gandhi. The search for his lost son, the emergence of old enemies and the turmoil of personal life are the main pivots of the film.
The film’s action sequences, music (by Yuvan Shankar Raja) and cinematography (by Siddharth Nuni) are impressive. However, a slight lack of screenplay and superficial presentation of character development do not fully engage the audience. Despite this, Vijay’s strong performance, thrilling climax and high budget production values make this film worth watching once.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Title | The Greatest of All Time (GOAT) |
| Language | Tamil |
| Genre | Action Thriller |
| Director | Venkat Prabhu |
| Screenplay | Venkat Prabhu, Ezhilarasu Gunasekaran, K. Chandru, Viji (dialogues) |
| Story by | Venkat Prabhu |
| Producers | Kalpathi S. Aghoram, Kalpathi S. Ganesh, Kalpathi S. Suresh |
| Production Company | AGS Entertainment |
| Lead Cast | Vijay (dual role), Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan, Jayaram, Ajmal Ameer |
| Music Composer | Yuvan Shankar Raja |
| Cinematographer | Siddhartha Nuni |
| Editor | Venkat Raajen |
| Release Date | 5 September 2024 |
| Running Time | 183 minutes |
| Budget | ₹380–400 crore |
| Box Office Collection | ₹440–456 crore (estimated) |
| Filming Locations | India, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Russia, United States |
| Distribution Formats | Standard, IMAX |
The Greatest of All Time Story
The film begins in Kenya in the year 2008, where SATS (Special Anti-Terrorism Squad) officer Gandhi and his team are on a mission. They recover uranium from a terrorist Omar and capture their former officer Menon, who was declared a fugitive on charges of treason. The train in which Menon is, is blown up and everyone is presumed dead. Gandhi starts living a secret life with his family. His wife Anu and son Jeevan live with him. During a mission, they are attacked in Bangkok, due to which Anu goes into labor pain and Jeevan mysteriously disappears. A burnt corpse is found and it is assumed to be Jeevan.
In 2024, Gandhi has become an immigration officer and is living separately from Anu. He goes on a mission to Moscow, where he sees a lookalike of his son Jeevan during an attack. Upon investigation, it is revealed that he is actually Jeevan, who was saved alive by Menon and brainwashed to become his disciple. Jeevan, now named Sanjay, considers Gandhi his enemy.
Some of Gandhi’s old associates join Menon and hatch a big conspiracy, which involves bombing the Chennai stadium. Gandhi foils the conspiracy with the help of his family and finally kills Jeevan. But it is eventually revealed that the one who was killed was a clone of Jeevan, and the real Jeevan has created many more clones – who may pose a new threat to Gandhi in the future.
Movie Review
“The GOAT” starring Vijay in the lead role is a brilliant story and a masterpiece of acting. The film once again proves why Vijay is such a popular and influential actor in Indian cinema. From the beginning to the end, the film takes the audience on a journey full of action, emotion, drama and surprise twists.
Vijay’s acting prowess is at its peak in this film. He brings the character to life by striking a balance between his mass-hero avatar and sensitive acting. His double role – Gandhi and Jeevan – has given a strong performance in both the roles. The emotions in his eyes, his grip in action and the depth in the emotional scenes keep the audience hooked to the film.
The film is directed by Venkat Prabhu, who has presented the story very intelligently. The twists and turns in the script are so brilliant that the audience is unable to guess what will happen next. Especially in the second half of the film, there are tremendous twists in the story which surprise the audience.
The action scenes of the film are quite stylish, but they also show an emotional connection. They are not just action, but also reflect the depth of the story. The background music and Yuvan Shankar Raja’s soundtrack make these scenes even more powerful. The cinematography is also superb – every frame is gorgeous and full of cinematic experience.
The special thing about the film is that it gives the audience plenty of Goosebumps – especially in the second half, when actors like Trisha, Sivakarthikeyan come in cameo roles and the last 40 minutes are no less than a treat for cricket fans. Footage of players like MS Dhoni, Jadeja, Rohit Sharma forced the audience to scream in the theater. These scenes are very special especially for CSK and Thalapathy fans.
However, the film also has some shortcomings. The first half seems a bit slow in some places and there was scope for further improvement in the de-aging effects. The graphics and VFX also seemed weak in some places. But these shortcomings are completely balanced by the strong story, acting and emotions of the film.
Overall, “The GOAT” is a heart-warming film, full of thrills and twists. It is a treat for Vijay fans, and a great experience for those who like action-drama. This film is not only one of Vijay’s best films, but has also become one of the memorable films of 2024. I give this film 9.2/10.
Movie Trailer
Conclusion
“The Goat” is a great cinematic experience that is adorned with Vijay’s amazing performance, strong screenplay and depth. The film not only entertains the audience but also touches their hearts. A perfect balance of action, emotion and power, it is a complete masala film maker. While the film is a treat for Thalapathy Vijay fans, Dhoni’s cameo makes the film even more special. Despite some technical shortcomings, the film keeps the audience captivated. Overall, the film is worth watching and gives a memorable experience.
