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‘GOAT’ is a commercial film with no political connotations: Venkat Prabhu

The Vijay starrer will release worldwide on 5 September, coinciding with Vinayaka Chaturthi.

South First Desk

Published Aug 18, 2024 | 11:59 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 18, 2024 | 11:59 PM

Vijay headlines 'GOAT', directed by Venkat Prabhu. (X)

Vijay headlines 'GOAT', directed by Venkat Prabhu. (X)

At the Chennai trailer launch event for The Greatest Of All Time (GOAT), director Venkat Prabhu showcased his signature sarcastic humour, delivering a series of witty and cheeky responses that stole the show. Unveiled on Saturday, the trailer has heightened anticipation for the film, set to release worldwide on 5 September, coinciding with Vinayaka Chaturthi.

In thanking the producers and technical team, Venkat Prabhu acknowledged the mixed reactions to Yuvan Shankar Raja’s songs but expressed confidence that the visuals in the film would make them a treat for audiences.

The trailer for GOAT has heightened expectations by hinting at a possible third character for Vijay, who was previously shown in dual roles, one of which utilises de-ageing technology. Despite this excitement, there is some scepticism about Vijay’s de-aged appearance, particularly after the release of the song “Spark” lyrics video.

 Responding to feedback on the de-aged look, Venkat Prabhu explained, “I aimed to depict the second character as a 22 to 23-year-old man, and Vijay sir wanted it to resemble him closely. Given his recognisable face, making significant changes was challenging. After the reactions to the “Spark” video, we refined our approach, which contributed to the trailer delay. The de-aged look in the trailer now closely matches what will be seen in theatres.”

Earlier this year, while filming GOAT, Vijay announced his political party, Tamizhaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), which will contest the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

Vijay sir sees films purely as entertainment: Venkat Prabhu

Vijay has never influenced his films to advance his political agenda, noted Venkat Prabhu. “While some trailer dialogues may hint at his political career, they fit seamlessly into the film’s narrative.
Vijay sir sees films purely as entertainment. GOAT is a commercial film with no political connotations.”

 Vijay has announced that his next film, tentatively titled Thalapathy 69 and directed by H Vinoth, will be his last before entering politics. Venkat Prabhu expressed his wish for Vijay to continue acting but noted that they did not discuss politics. “As a fan, I asked him to keep making films. He smiled and responded, ‘Let’s see.’”

With GOAT, Venkat Prabhu, known for directing Ajith Kumar’s Mankatha (2011), becomes one of the few directors to have worked with both Vijay and Ajith.

The GOAT trailer features a line from Mankatha, but Venkat Prabhu clarified that it was not meant to appeal to any particular fan base. “It’s not an Ajith dialogue; it’s a Venkat Prabhu dialogue. I simply had both actors say it,” he explained. Venkat also noted that Ajith had seen the trailer and congratulated Vijay and the team.

Regarding an audio launch for the film, the director stated that it’s up to Vijay to decide, and the team will announce any plans in the coming days. “Vijay sir has been involved in every stage of GOAT’s development, reviewing non-CGI and rough music versions of the trailer. He has seen the completed film and is very pleased with it.”

Produced by Kalpathi S Aghoram’s AGS Entertainment, GOAT features a star-studded cast including Prabhudheva, Mohan, Prashanth, Jayaram, Ajmal Ameer, Vaibhav, Sneha, Laila, and Meenakshi Chaudhary. With music by Yuvan Shankar Raja, the film is set to be a major hit.

The GOAT trailer showcases Gandhi (Vijay) as a skilled spy and hostage negotiator for a secret intelligence unit. It reveals little beyond a failed mission and Gandhi’s laid-back family life. GOAT features a father and son (both portrayed by Vijay) racing against time to thwart a major conspiracy.

In a recent Tamil magazine interview, Venkat Prabhu explained that Vijay, Ajmal, Prashanth, and Prabhudeva play members of the Special Anti-Terrorist Squad (SATS), collaborating with RAW. The film follows their attempts to resolve issues stemming from a troubled past mission.

The late actor and politician Vijayakanth will appear through AI technology.

GOAT features cinematography by Siddhartha Nuni, editing by Venkat Raajen, art direction by Rajeevan, and action choreography by Dhilip Subbarayan.

(Edited by S Subhakeerthana)

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