The Greatest of All Time is the soundtrack album composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja for the 2024 Tamil-language film of the same name, which is directed by Venkat Prabhu and stars Vijay in four roles, alongside Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Ajmal Ameer and Mohan.
| The Greatest of All Time | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Soundtrack album cover | ||||
| Soundtrack album by | ||||
| Released | 3 September 2024 | |||
| Recorded | 2023–2024 | |||
| Studio | U1 Records, Chennai AI Watan Studios, Dubai High Tide Studios, Germany Ilaiyaraaja Studios, Chennai Chennai Strings Orchestra, Chennai | |||
| Genre | Film soundtrack | |||
| Length | 16:53 | |||
| Language | Tamil | |||
| Label | T-Series | |||
| Producer | Yuvan Shankar Raja | |||
| Yuvan Shankar Raja chronology | ||||
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| Singles from The Greatest of All Time | ||||
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The album featured four songs, with all of them being previously released as singles. It was planned to be released with the film's audio launch event, before its cancelation. The album was released via T-Series on 3 September 2024, two days before the film's release.[1]
Background
editYuvan shared a long-standing personal and working relationship with Prabhu; since the latter's directorial debut with Chennai 600028 (2007), he would score all of his films with the exception of Manmadha Leelai (2022) and the unreleased Party, composed by Prabhu's brother Premgi Amaren.[2] Yuvan's only composition for a Vijay-starrer was Pudhiya Geethai (2003).[3] In December 2021, he shared a picture with Vijay on his X (formerly Twitter) account indicating a possible reunion.[4] On 21 May 2023, AGS Entertainment officially announced the film with Prabhu and Yuvan's involvement as the director and musician; This would be his second film with Vijay after two decades.[5][6] The songs in the film were written by Prabhu's father Gangai Amaran, Madhan Karky, Kabilan Vairamuthu and Vivek.[7] Initially, Arivu was signed to write on song, but was subsequently replaced with Vivek due to reasons unknown.[8]
Production and composition
editIn September 2023, at the Panacea23 event at SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, Yuvan revealed about the first single which would be a dappankuthu number.[9] The aforementioned song (later deciphered to be "Whistle Podu") was shot during the first schedule,[10] and it was recorded during late-October 2023, commencing the music production, and vocals performed by Vijay himself.
The melody number "Chinna Chinna Kangal" was composed by Yuvan in January 2024 at Bangalore.[11] At that time, he wanted the song to be sung by his sister Bhavatharini, but she died from cancer on 25 January 2024.[12][13] Her vocals were generated via artificial intelligence by the music production company Pitch Innovations. The company's CEO, T. R. Krishna Chetan, who previously worked as a sound engineer at A. R. Rahman's Panchathan Record Inn Studios, recalled that the team assembled the singer's previous recordings at various pitches and styles, for the studio-quality AI model and a pilot version of the song being recorded with Priyanka NK's vocals which was then replaced with Bhavatharini's AI generated vocals.[14][15] After listening a snippet of her vocals, Vijay felt emotional and impressed, and agreed to perform the vocals for the male counterpart.[16]
Yuvan commenced recording the film's background score during late-July 2024.[17] Yuvan collaborated with the Budapest Scoring Orchestra for re-recording, where some of the cues had resembled the theme from Mission: Impossible.[18]
Marketing and release
editSingles
edit"Whistle Podu" was the first single from the film, released on the occasion of Tamil New Year (14 April 2024).[19][20] Its title was perceived by some media as an allusion to the Chennai Super Kings' anthem.[21] The song received a mixed response from fans, although some felt its reception would improve with time.[22]
The second single "Chinna Chinna Kangal" was released on 22 June, coinciding with Vijay's 50th birthday.[23] Prior to its release, the song was leaked to social media pages, which leaded to the makers filling copyright notice to the accounts who were spreading the leaked footage throughout the platforms and officially releasing it earlier on 5:30pm (IST) rather than the initially planned time, 6:00pm.[24] Despite this, the song topped the most-viewed video globally on YouTube in the past 24 hours with 4.5 million views.[25]
The third single, titled "Spark", was released on 3 August.[26] The song received negative response from audiences, who criticised Yuvan's composition and Vijay's de-aged look.[27]
The fourth single, titled "Matta" was released on 31 August, coinciding Yuvan's birthday.[28]
Cancelled audio launch plans
editIn May 2024, it was reported that the film's audio launch would take place in Malaysia or Singapore.[29] But an article from The Times of India, revealed that the event would be held in Chennai during mid-August; it further claimed that Vijay would skip the forthcoming event due to his political commitments.[30]
Track listing
editTamil
edit| No. | Title | Lyrics | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Whistle Podu" | Madhan Karky | Vijay, Venkat Prabhu, Yuvan Shankar Raja, Premgi Amaren | 4:47 |
| 2. | "Chinna Chinna Kangal" | Kabilan Vairamuthu | Vijay, Bhavatharini,[a] Yuvan Shankar Raja | 4:29 |
| 3. | "Spark" | Gangai Amaran | Yuvan Shankar Raja, Vrusha Balu | 4:10 |
| 4. | "Matta" | Vivek | Yuvan Shankar Raja, Shenbagaraj, Velu, Sam, Narayanan Ravishankar | 3:32 |
| Total length: | 16:53 | |||
Telugu
edit| No. | Title | Lyrics | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Whistleaesko" | Ramajogayya Sastry | Yuvan Shankar Raja, Nakash Aziz | 4:47 |
| 2. | "Ninnu Kanna Kanulae" | Ramajogayya Sastry | Yuvan Shankar Raja, S. P. Charan, K. S. Chithra | 4:30 |
| 3. | "Spark" | Ramajogayya Sastry | Yuvan Shankar Raja, Vrusha Balu | 4:10 |
| 4. | "Masthie" | Ramajogayya Sastry | Yuvan Shankar Raja, Shenbagaraj, Velu, Sam, Narayanan Ravishankar | 3:32 |
| Total length: | 16:53 | |||
Hindi
edit| No. | Title | Lyrics | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Whistle Podu" | Raqueeb Alam | Yuvan Shankar Raja, Nakash Aziz | 4:41 |
| 2. | "Chhoti Chhoti Aankhen" | Raqueeb Alam | Yuvan Shankar Raja, Javed Ali, K. S. Chithra | 4:30 |
| 3. | "Spark" | Raqueeb Alam | Yuvan Shankar Raja, Kunal Ganjawala, Vrusha Balu | 4:10 |
| 4. | "Aaya" | Raqueeb Alam | Yuvan Shankar Raja, Vrusha Balu | 3:32 |
| Total length: | 16:47 | |||
Background score
edit| The Greatest of All Time | |
|---|---|
| Film score by | |
| Released | 4 October 2024 22 October 2024 |
| Recorded | 2023–2024 |
| Studio | U1 Records, Chennai AI Watan Studios, Dubai High Tide Studios, Germany Ilaiyaraaja Studios, Chennai Chennai Strings Orchestra, Chennai |
| Genre | Film score |
| Length | 32:12 |
| Language | Tamil |
| Label | T-Series |
| Producer | Yuvan Shankar Raja |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Captain Lives On" | 2:20 |
| 2. | "Echos Of The Past" | 1:34 |
| 3. | "Mission Gandhi" | 0:56 |
| 4. | "Srinidhi Blossoms" | 0:44 |
| 5. | "Metro Madness" | 1:24 |
| 6. | "Shadows Of The Dark" | 1:47 |
| 7. | "The Real Og" | 1:12 |
| 8. | "Whistle Podu Theatrical" | 4:15 |
| 9. | "Lonely Lullaby" | 2:53 |
| 10. | "Whistle Podu Sat Night Mix" | 2:22 |
| Total length: | 19:28 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Goat" | 0:50 |
| 2. | "Captain In Action" | 1:03 |
| 3. | "Bangkok Misery" | 1:25 |
| 4. | "Welcome To Moscow" | 1:26 |
| 5. | "Moscow Memoirs" | 1:28 |
| 6. | "On Da Run In Moscow" | 2:46 |
| 7. | "Menon Is Alive" | 1:01 |
| 8. | "Sunil Vs Kalyan" | 1:15 |
| 9. | "Goat Of Chepauk" | 1:29 |
| Total length: | 12:44 | |
Controversy
editAfter the trailer release, netizens found that the background score was similar to the song "Knock You Out" from the J-pop girl group Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku's studio album indigo hour.[31] However, that particular cue was composed during October 2023 and was included in the film's promotional video for the pooja ceremony, while Indigo Hour released in February 2024.[31] Following the release of "Whistle Podu", a social activist filed a police complaint at Mylapore Police Station in Chennai to DGP Office, stating that the lyrical video did not feature any disclaimer on drinking or smoking and promotes drug addiction and rowdyism to the youth, demanding an action towards Vijay and ban to the song.[32]
Notes
edit- ^ Via artificial intelligence, originally sung by Priyanka NK.
References
edit- ^ T-Series Tamil (3 September 2024). The Greatest Of All Time Audio Jukebox | Thalapathy Vijay | Venkat Prabhu | Yuvan Shankar Raja. Retrieved 3 September 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Cast and crew of Vijay – Venkat Prabhu's 'Thalapathy 68' revealed". The Hindu. 24 October 2023. Archived from the original on 24 October 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
- ^ "Will Yuvan Shankar Raja and Vijay team up after almost two decades?". The Times of India. 24 December 2021. Archived from the original on 27 January 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
- ^ Menon, Thinkal (24 December 2021). "Yuvan Shankar Raja posts a picture of himself with Thalapathy Vijay; netizens wonder what's brewing". OTTPlay. Archived from the original on 17 March 2024. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
- ^ "Thalapathy Vijay and Venkat Prabhu to join forces for actor's 68th film. Yuvan Shankar Raja to score music". India Today. 21 May 2023. Archived from the original on 22 May 2023. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
- ^ "'Thalapathy 68': Vijay, Venkat Prabhu team up for their next". The Hindu. 21 May 2023. Archived from the original on 22 May 2023. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
- ^ T-Series (14 April 2024). Whistle Podu Lyrical Video | The Greatest Of All Time | Thalapathy Vijay | VP | U1 | AGS | T-Series. Archived from the original on 15 April 2024. Retrieved 22 June 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Thalapathy 68 First Look: Thalapathy Vijay's next film titled The Greatest of All Time: A Venkat Prabhu Hero". Pinkvilla. 31 December 2023. Archived from the original on 1 January 2024. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
- ^ "'Thalapathy 68's first single will be a Kuthu song, confirms Yuvan Shankar Raja". The Times of India. 5 September 2023. Archived from the original on 24 October 2023. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
- ^ "'Thalapathy 68' song shoot wrapped up; choreographer revealed". The Times of India. 9 October 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 10 October 2023. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
- ^ "The 'GOAT' crew pays special tribute to the late singer Bhavatharini as they bring back her voice through AI". The Times of India. 15 June 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 31 July 2024. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
- ^ "Yuvan Shankar Raja On Song In Thalapathy Vijay's GOAT: Never Imagined I'd Be Using Bhavatharini's Voice Like This". Times Now. 22 June 2024. Archived from the original on 31 July 2024. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
- ^ "The G.O.A.T second single to have late Bhavatharini's voice using AI". DT Next. 21 June 2024. Archived from the original on 21 June 2024. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
- ^ "Once we establish how to use AI properly, negative comments will go away: Krishna Chetan". The Times of India. 15 July 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 1 August 2024. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
- ^ B, Jayabhuvaneshwari (24 June 2024). "Song and Sensibility". Cinema Express. Archived from the original on 31 July 2024. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
- ^ Sarpana, Vini (24 June 2024). "GOAT 2nd Single: "பாடலைப் பாடிவிட்டு விஜய் சார் சொன்னது என்னன்னா..." – கபிலன் வைரமுத்து ஷேரிங்ஸ்" [GOAT 2nd Single: "What Vijay sir said after recording the song" – Kabilan Vairamuthu shares]. Ananda Vikatan (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 24 June 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
- ^ "Yuvan Shankar Raja begins background score for Vijay's GOAT". The Times of India. 26 July 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 31 July 2024. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
- ^ "VIJAY Sir in SJ Suryah Mode"🔥 – Venkat Prabhu Exclusive GOAT Interview | Part 2 | Yuvan | AGS (Interview). Cineulagam. 30 August 2024. Archived from the original on 30 August 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Vijay's GOAT first single: Makers tease with quirky and colourful 'are you ready' poster". OTTPlay. 13 April 2024. Archived from the original on 13 April 2024. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
- ^ "The Greatest of All Time song Whistle Podu: Vijay turns singer and shakes a leg with Prabhudeva, Prashanth. Watch". Hindustan Times. 15 April 2024. Archived from the original on 24 April 2024. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
- ^ "CSK 'GOAT' MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja Get A Whistle Podu Tribute From Vijay". News18. 16 April 2024. Archived from the original on 17 April 2024. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
- ^ "The Greatest Of All Time first song Whistle Podu: Thalapathy Vijay's party anthem gets mixed reviews". OTTPlay. 15 April 2024. Archived from the original on 15 April 2024. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
- ^ Panikker, Rohit (22 June 2024). "Chinna Chinna Kangal from Thalapathy Vijay's The GOAT Is Out!". Times Now. Archived from the original on 22 June 2024. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
- ^ "Vijay's 'GOAT' makers take strict action against piracy after 'Chinna Chinna Kangal' song leaked". The Times of India. 23 June 2024. Archived from the original on 29 June 2024. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
- ^ "Vijay's 'GOAT' second single 'Chinna Chinna Kangal' tops the global chart". The Times of India. 24 June 2024. Archived from the original on 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ "Spark Promo OUT: Makers of Thalapathy Vijay starrer The Greatest Of All Time drop an upbeat glimpse of upcoming single ft Meenakshi Chaudhary". Pinkvilla. 2 August 2024. Archived from the original on 2 August 2024. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
- ^ "Spark from The Greatest of All Time: Vijay's de-aged look panned by internet. Watch". Hindustan Times. 3 August 2024. Archived from the original on 4 August 2024. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
- ^ "'GOAT' fourth single 'Matta': It's Ilayathalapathy's party on Yuvan Shankar Raja's birthday". The Times of India. 31 August 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 1 September 2024. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
- ^ "Thalapathy Vijay's GOAT Audio Launch To Happen In Malaysia Or Singapore: Reports". News18. 14 May 2024. Archived from the original on 31 July 2024. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
- ^ "Buzz: Vijay to skip the audio launch of 'GOAT'". The Times of India. 27 July 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 31 July 2024. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
- ^ a b "The Greatest of All Time BGM Vs Japanese girl group Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku's Knock You Out !". Moviecrow. 28 August 2024. Archived from the original on 28 August 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
- ^ "Vijay's 'Whistle Podu' from 'GOAT' in trouble; petition filed to ban the song- deets inside". The Times of India. 16 April 2024. Archived from the original on 16 April 2024.