World Courant
In a panorama the place South Indian cinema is reaching new heights, AGS Leisure is poised to make its mark with its most formidable mission so far. “The Best of All Time” (“GOAT”), starring megastar Vijay, is the corporate’s twenty fifth manufacturing.
Archana Kalpathi, CEO of Chennai, Tamil Nadu-based, AGS Leisure and inventive producer of “GOAT,” sat down with Selection to debate this high-stakes enterprise, the corporate’s strategic imaginative and prescient, and her perspective on the present golden age of South Indian filmmaking.
The motion thriller, directed by Venkat Prabhu (“Maanaadu”), options Vijay as an agent with the Indian intelligence company RAW (Analysis and Evaluation Wing) entangled in a mission that spirals right into a years-long saga. With its pan-Indian launch technique and important abroad potential, GOAT represents a brand new frontier for AGS. “It is a correct motion entertainer,” Kalpathi reveals.
“There is a mission that goes unsuitable, after which after a few years, it comes again to hang-out them, and (we see) how they resolve the difficulty,” Kalpathi elaborates on the plot.
The movie is producing important buzz, partly resulting from studies that it is one in every of Vijay’s final tasks earlier than he transitions to a full-time political profession. This provides an additional layer of stress for the manufacturing crew. Kalpathi acknowledges the problem: “Doing a movie with a famous person, there’s all the time this added stress of performing properly, as a result of it’s actually actually tough to get an excellent movie with a giant star. The expectations and the bar are set so excessive. I had the identical stress for ‘Bigil’ (AGS’ 2019 hit additionally starring Vijay), so it’s no completely different.”
AGS plans to launch “GOAT” in Tamil, Hindi, and Telugu throughout roughly 5,000 screens in India. Kalpathi reveals that the abroad enterprise for the movie is anticipated to be substantial, with its worth reaching “90% of the worth of Tamil Nadu,” underscoring the worldwide attraction of South Indian cinema. Six of the highest 10 Indian grossers this 12 months are from South India, led by “Kalki 2898 AD.” Vijay’s final launch “Leo” was one in every of 2023’s largest Indian hits with $74 million.
Over the previous twenty years, AGS Leisure has established itself as a powerhouse in South Indian cinema. The corporate ventured into movie manufacturing in 2006 with Susi Ganesan’s “Thiruttu Payale,” adopted by “Santosh Subramaniam,” each of which had been business successes. Its numerous portfolio consists of movies throughout varied genres, from romantic motion comedies like “Maasilamani” to interval items akin to “Madrasapattinam,” and critically acclaimed tasks like Myshkin’s crime thriller “Yudham Sei.” Notable productions additionally embody KV Anand’s “Maattrraan” starring Suriya, Atlee’s sports activities motion movie “Bigil” and the current hit “Love Immediately.” Past manufacturing, AGS has additionally made important strides in movie distribution, bringing profitable movies like “Kandhakottai,” “Inidhu Inidhu,” “Mynaa,” and “Payanam” to audiences.
Trying past “GOAT”, AGS has a slate in growth. This consists of the Hindi-language remake of its hit romantic comedy “Love Immediately.” Directed by Pradeep Ranganathan, the Tamil-language movie featured Ranganathan in his performing debut, Sathyaraj, Raadhika Sarathkumar, Yogi Babu, Raveena Ravi and Ivana in lead roles. The movie follows two younger lovers who’re pressured to alternate their telephones for a day and the results of that. The movie was produced for $605,000 and went on to gross $12 million. Discussions are ongoing for Chinese language and Korean remakes, Kalpathi mentioned.
AGS is teaming with Ranganathan once more on “Dragon,” which Kalpathi describes as “a really enjoyable faculty movie, which caters to 18-30 year-olds, and it is a slice-of-life style.” “Thani Oruvan 2,” a sequel to AGS’ hit 2015 action-thriller, can also be within the works.
Kalpathi emphasizes AGS’s concentrate on robust scripts: “Story is the famous person of any movie. With out the script, you’ll be able to’t do something. No matter packaging, star solid, nothing will assist if the script isn’t proper.”
That philosophy has led AGS to discover productions in different Indian languages, together with Malayalam, Kannada and Marathi. Kalpathi explains the technique: “If we really feel that it is a small story and a candy story that may be carried out in 4 to 5 crores ($475,000-$600,000), it is smart to do it in a number of languages.”
Whereas primarily targeted on theatrical releases, Kalpathi acknowledges the potential of streaming platforms for longer-form storytelling: “For tales which you could’t say in three hours or two hours 40 minutes, and that want, like, 12 or 13 hours, OTT (streaming) is an incredible medium to precise or inform these tales.”
AGS can also be increasing its exhibition enterprise, specializing in renovating and probably changing single-screen theaters in smaller cities of Tamil Nadu into multiplexes.
Reflecting on the present state of the business, Kalpathi is optimistic: “We’re, in keeping with me, in one of many golden eras of South Indian cinema, with nice tales being advised.”
“GOAT” releases Sept. 5 worldwide.
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