New Delhi: Thalapathy Vijay’s high-stakes action drama GOAT (The Greatest of All Time), directed by Venkat Prabhu, is staring at a potential Rs 100 crore loss due to ongoing legal hurdles delaying its release.
Advance bookings worth crores, especially overseas, have been refunded as screens become scarce. The Pongal festival in Tamil Nadu – a golden holiday window – is slipping away fast, leaving producers in a tough spot. Echoing the infamous Jana Nayagan precedent, where political controversies forced a delayed release and box office struggles, GOAT risks a similar fate unless it hits screens soon.
Trade experts’ prediction on Jana Nayagan’s collection and loss
The film’s troubles stem from pending cases in the Madras High Court and a fresh plea in the Supreme Court, which Vijay himself attended today. Makers had banked heavily on Pongal’s vacation buzz in Tamil Nadu, expecting packed houses this entire week. But with refunds pouring in, particularly from overseas markets where rescheduling shows is a nightmare, the momentum is lost. Industry insider Ramesh Bala shared with News 9 an estimate of a split loss: Rs 50 crore domestically and another Rs 50 crore abroad.
Pongal won’t return, and the calendar ahead looks bleak. February and March offer no major holidays in Tamil Nadu, starving the film of that crucial family audience push. April’s Tamil New Year is out too, clashing with state elections and the Model Code of Conduct that bans big releases. “This is a sizeable setback,” says trade expert. “No holiday periods left – it’s a waiting game now.”
A Republic Day (January 26) drop could salvage things, riding patriotic fervour and long weekends to recover costs. But if pushed to February or March, expect a huge hit – weaker openings, faded hype, and tougher competition from other South Indian biggies. GOAT, packed with Vijay’s mass appeal and a stellar cast including Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, and Sneha, was poised for a Rs 200 crore-plus opening. Now, uncertainty looms.
Producers are scrambling for a new window, but time is ticking. Fans, who flooded advance bookings, are heartbroken. Will GOAT roar back like Vijay’s past hits, or limp like Jana Nayagana? The industry watches closely as legal verdicts decide the fate of this Pongal casualty.