“Vijay’s Dual Role Shines in The Greatest of All Time (2024): A Full Review and Movie Facts”

The Greatest of All Time (2024) is an action thriller and starring Vijay in a dual role. The film, also known as The GOAT, was released in Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi.

Release Date: September 5, 2024

Director: Venkat Prabhu
Screenplay by: Venkat Prabhu keeps the plot suspenseful with numerous twists and emotional revelations.
Story by: Venkat Prabhu
Cinematography by: Siddhartha Nuni, capturing the action sequences across various locations like Moscow and Chennai.
Edited by: Venkat Raajen
Music by: Music is by the renowned Yuvan Shankar Raja, elevating the film’s tension with his gripping soundtrack.
Production by: AGS Entertainment, a studio known for delivering large-scale cinematic experiences.

Main Story:

In 2008, Gandhi, along with his SATS (Special Anti-Terrorism Squad) team—Sunil, Kalyan, and Ajay—successfully captured their former chief, Rajiv Menon, in Kenya and recovered stolen uranium. After a train explosion that appeared to have killed Menon, the team returned to Delhi and lived undercover as employees of a tourism company. Gandhi, who is married to Anu and a father to five-year-old Jeevan, had to balance his secret life with his family responsibilities.

During a mission in Bangkok, Gandhi decided to bring his family along to dispel Anu’s suspicions. However, after completing his mission, they were attacked, Jeevan went missing, and the police found a charred body that was believed to be Jeevan. Anu, devastated by the loss of her son, gave birth to a baby girl but stopped speaking to Gandhi.

By 2024, Gandhi had left the squad and was working as an immigration officer in Chennai. He was separated from Anu and lived apart from his daughter Jeevitha. Gandhi was sent to Moscow to train new officers but faced a shock when the embassy was attacked by his son, Jeevan, who he believed was dead. Jeevan, now called Sanjay, had been manipulated by Menon, who survived the train explosion and had kidnapped him, turning him against Gandhi.

Back in Chennai, Gandhi attempted to reunite his family, but Jeevan, consumed by revenge, killed Ajay and Sunil’s daughter, Srinidhi. Kalyan, who was revealed to be in league with Menon, aided Jeevan in his deadly plan. Sunil survived Jeevan’s attack and killed Kalyan in retaliation. Jeevan’s final mission involved detonating bombs at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium during a cricket match. With help from his family, Gandhi disarmed the bombs and confronted Jeevan, leading to a tragic battle atop the stadium, where Gandhi was forced to kill his own son to save the thousands of lives at stake.

Main Cast and Roles:

• Vijay plays a dual role as Gandhi, a retired SATS agent, and his estranged son, Jeevan, who becomes a central antagonist. The father-son dynamics are key to the story’s emotional core.
• Sneha portrays Anuradha (Anu), Gandhi’s wife, who becomes estranged from him after the mysterious loss of their son.
• Meenakshi Chaudhary plays Srinidhi, the daughter of Sunil, who becomes a tragic victim in Jeevan’s vendetta.
• Prashanth and Prabhu Deva star as Gandhi’s SATS colleagues and friends, providing strong support and camaraderie to the protagonist throughout the film.
• Ajmal Ameer portrays Ajay, another SATS team member who is entangled in the dangerous mission.
• Mohan plays the villainous Rajiv Menon, a mastermind seeking revenge who manipulates Gandhi’s son to carry out his deadly plans.
• Premji Amaren plays Seenu, Gandhi’s brother-in-law, providing a mix of family dynamics and emotional support.

Movie Facts:

1. Director and Cast: The film is directed by Venkat Prabhu, marking his first collaboration with Vijay. Apart from Vijay, the ensemble cast includes Prabhu Deva, Sneha, Jayaram, and Prasanth. Vijay plays dual roles as both Gandhi and his estranged son, Jeevan.
2. Plot Overview: The movie juggles multiple themes such as loyalty, betrayal, and redemption, with Gandhi leading a team of secret agents who face fallout from a mission gone wrong in 2008. As the plot moves to 2024, Gandhi must confront a renegade figure—his own son Jeevan, now manipulated by forces seeking revenge.
3. Themes: The film explores father-son dynamics, the consequences of one’s past actions, and the thin line between justice and vengeance. It balances high-octane action with emotional drama.

Movie Review:

The film has received a mix of praise and criticism. While fans laud Vijay’s performance and the action sequences, some critics feel that the plot, though engaging, lacks originality. Vijay’s portrayal of both father and son is the backbone of the film, though the script is seen as formulaic at times. The film draws heavily from familiar themes in Tamil cinema yet remains a spectacle with well-executed stunts and moments of genuine tension.

Despite its flaws, The Greatest of All Time has resonated well with audiences, especially Vijay’s fans, and continues his streak of box-office successes. Its narrative, while overplotted in places, finds resolution in a grand and action-packed climax.