AGS Entertainment's Ambitious Leap: 'The Greatest of All Time'

AGS Entertainment is poised to make its mark in the South Indian cinema landscape with its most ambitious project yet, "The Greatest of All Time" (GOAT). The action thriller, directed by Venkat Prabhu and starring Vijay, is the company's 25th production. As the CEO of Chennai-based AGS Entertainment and the creative producer of GOAT, Archana Kalpathi sat down with Variety to discuss this high-stakes venture, the company's strategic vision, and her perspective on the current golden age of South Indian filmmaking. What if this assumption is wrong? What might the author have missed? Kalpathi highlights the film's pan-Indian release strategy and significant overseas potential, which represents a new frontier for AGS. Will this ambitious project pay off, or will it falter under the pressure of being Vijay's last project before he transitions to a full-time political career? The film is generating significant buzz, partly due to reports that it's one of Vijay's last projects before he transitions to a full-time political career. This adds an extra layer of pressure for the production team. Kalpathi acknowledges the challenge: "Doing a film with a superstar, there is always this added pressure of performing well, because it is honestly really difficult to get a good film with a big star. The expectations and the bar is set so high. " AGS plans to release "GOAT" in Tamil, Hindi, and Telugu across approximately 5,000 screens in India. Kalpathi reveals that the overseas business for the film is expected to be substantial, with its value reaching "90% of the value of Tamil Nadu," underscoring the global appeal of South Indian cinema. But what about the potential risks and challenges that come with producing a film with a big star? Kalpathi emphasizes AGS's focus on strong scripts: "Story is the superstar of any film. Without the script, you can't do anything. Whatever packaging, star cast, nothing will help if the script is not right. " This philosophy has led AGS to explore productions in other Indian languages, including Malayalam, Kannada, and Marathi. What about the role of streaming platforms in the industry? While primarily focused on theatrical releases, Kalpathi acknowledges the potential of streaming platforms for longer-form storytelling: "For stories that you can't say in three hours or two hours 40 minutes, and that need, like, 12 or 13 hours, OTT [streaming] is an amazing medium to express or tell those stories. " AGS is also expanding its exhibition business, focusing on renovating and potentially converting single-screen theaters in smaller towns of Tamil Nadu into multiplexes. Reflecting on the current state of the industry, Kalpathi is optimistic: "We are, according to me, in one of the golden eras of South Indian cinema, with great stories being told. "