So, let’s get this out of the way first. This article about Vijay and Venkat Prabhu’s latest, GOAT, will have spoilers, and readers are kindly requested to proceed accordingly.
As The Greatest of All Time came to a close after almost 180 minutes, Venkat Prabhu did something quite interesting. No, I am not talking about the bloopers reel, which showcases the stars of GOAT in a very fun atmosphere. Between the last shot of ‘A Venkat Prabhu Hero’ and the bloopers reel, Venkat hints at a possible sequel.
Also Read | GOAT Movie Review: Venkat Prabhu film wonderfully champions Vijay, but misses on other fronts
Now, we know that Vijay has decided to hang his acting boots, and concentrate on his political career. We also know that his last film would be helmed by H Vinoth, known for Sathuranga Vettai, Theeran Adhigaaram Ondru, and the three films with Ajith Kumar, namely Nerkonda Paarvai, Varisu, and Thunivu. So, leaving GOAT with an open ending seems like a peculiar choice.
Nevertheless, the epilogue of GOAT is reminiscent of another recent blockbuster, Animal. While the Ranbir Kapoor-Sandeep Vanga film took the cosmetic surgery route to introduce a new but familiar villain, GOAT takes the sci-fi route to achieve the same.
Interestingly enough, before the release of GOAT, it was speculated that the film would be a sci-fi film, especially considering the de-aging portions of Vijay. Many were under the impression that the ‘Time’ in Greatest of All Time hinted at multiple timelines being involved in the narrative. Considering Venkat Prabhu wonderfully nativised the time-loop concept in Maanaadu, expectations were high that he would have done something similar in GOAT too. However, the film ended up being a straight-forward revenge drama without layers of sci-fi. And then, the epilogue happens.
I repeat the warning… Spoilers galore in what is going to follow.
If you are still reading this, you know by now that Gandhi (Vijay) and his son Jeevan (De-aged Vijay) are trading fisticuffs and bicycle kicks at each other in the terrace of the Chepauk cricket stadium where CSK is facing Mumbai Indians. After an extended fight sequence, Gandhi manages to overpower Jeevan, who planned to detonate bombs in the stadium, and shoots him dead. Now, a triumphant Gandhi walks to the precipice of the terrace, with a rousing score to boot, and the end title card appears. This is where the film should have ideally ended and given way to the blooper reel. But Venkat Prabhu and Co had other plans.
Also Read | GOAT box office collection Day 1: Vijay-starrer becomes biggest Tamil opener of the year with Rs 43 cr debut, registers 99% occupancy in Chennai
They show a gun firing range where someone is practising giving headshots to a photo of Gandhi. As the target sheet zooms in, we see that it is Jeevan… but wait… we also see a clean shaven Vijay standing alongside him. From what we know, Gandhi and his wife Anu only had one son. So who is this pudhiya jeevan near Jeevan? To assuage our confusions, Venkat Prabhu quickly tells us that the Jeevan who was sent to Chennai from Russia to infiltrate the core group of Gandhi and tarnish his reputation was not the real Jeevan, but a clone he created. And we also see that he has another clone ready for dispatch.
Vijay-starrer GOAT off to a good start at the box office.
Then, the words “GOAT vs OG – A Venkat Prabhu villain” appears in bold letters. Now, will the real Jeevan ever face Gandhi? And imagine the shock in the lives of Anu and Gandhi when they see their dead Jeevan come to life, only to be shot dead, and again come to life. Now, that is a time loop film that I’d love to watch. It’s almost like Jeevan is doing a Dr Strange and saying “Gandhi appa, I have come to bargain…” and we could be on a forever loop, and it would also mean, Vijay would never quit cinema, and continue to be the top-tier entertainer he is… But yeah, if wishes were horses…
With the advent of Artificial Intelligence, it is a classic case of never say never, but it is highly unlikely that Vijay would return to this world of GOAT anytime soon. This seems more like Venkat Prabhu’s whimsical way of trapping him in the world of cinema even if Vijay has other plans. Will this film turn into a franchise with other actors coming in to play either the GOAT or the OG is an interesting idea that can be explored. This time around, it could actually be sci-fi, and could be an interesting experiment. But yeah, it is almost impossible for anyone to step into the shoes of the GOAT, and that is why Vijay is one of the last-standing OGs.
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