With an incredibly strong South Indian presence at Lambert, students share a collective passion and interest in South Indian pop culture. With the release of each new film, the South Indian film industry reaches new fans across international borders.
Thalapathy Vijay’s latest venture, “GOAT” (The Greatest of All Time), directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, has hit the screens with much fanfare and anticipation. It promised everything fans love about a Vijay movie — action-packed sequences, emotional depth and a dash of humor. The addition of Yuvan Shankar Raja’s (a famous Tamil composer) soundtrack only amplified fans’ expectations. However, despite all the ingredients for a classic Vijay hit, the film has left audiences with mixed feelings.
“GOAT” centers around a vigilante, played by Vijay, as he grapples with balancing justice for the oppressed and his own haunting past. The movie brims with intense action, dramatic confrontations and many heartwarming moments, but what truly sets “GOAT” apart is its deep nostalgia rooted in a culmination of many of Vijay’s previous works.
“I really enjoyed watching the film with my friends and getting to see some really wholesome cameos from Vijay’s old movies,” junior Dayamayee Ramu Dayalan said. “After a point, the throwbacks did get overwhelming though.”
For some, the nostalgia was a welcome walk down memory lane while for others, it came at the expense of the story’s clarity. The constant flashbacks and callbacks began to disrupt the film’s flow, leaving viewers struggling to keep up with the plot.
“The overall plot line was very confusing,” sophomore Sahana Muralidhar stated. “There were way too many flashbacks to keep up with. Many of Vijay’s movies are known to have quite a bit of flashbacks, but the way they are executed don’t disturb the course of the story as much as this one did.”
One of the key elements that excited fans about the release of “GOAT” was its soundtrack by the celebrated composer Yuvan Shankar Raja. Known for his impactful music, his involvement was a major asset in the production of the movie.
“Going into the movie, I was eagerly looking forward to the playlist which was said to be incredible,” Muralidhar shared. “After listening to all of the songs, it just felt like the songs were overhyped and didn’t really fit with the overall plot of the movie.”
Despite the mixed reactions to this film, Thalapathy Vijay’s iconic mark in Kollywood and the anticipation for his future projects are stronger than ever. Fans remain eager to see what new dimensions he will bring to his roles. As Vijay nears the later stages of his career, each release becomes a significant event, and the release of “GOAT” is no exception, reflecting both the victories and challenges of his remarkable cinematic journey.
