Deva (Rajinikanth) is determined to uncover the truth behind the murder of his close friend Rajasekhar (Sathyaraj). His search soon reveals that Dayal (Soubin) and his boss Simon (Nagarjuna Akkineni) exploited Rajasekhar and his daughter Preethi (Shruti Haasan) in a sinister operation, using a machine to electrocute the dead.
To get closer to the truth, Deva and Preethi agree to continue the same work, even as Deva secretly pursues the real reason behind Rajasekhar’s death. This sets off a tense game of deception, with multiple players, including Dayal, gradually revealing their hidden motives.
But who is Deva really? Why is he so relentless in solving Rajasekhar’s murder? And how does his mysterious past as a coolie connect to the present conspiracy?
Analysis
Director Lokesh Kanagaraj has already established himself as a filmmaker with a distinct approach, even when working with top stars like Kamal Haasan and Vijay. He has built a reputation for packaging star vehicles in a unique way, which is why his collaboration with Rajinikanth created massive hype.
Unfortunately, “Coolie” turns out to be a mediocre effort from start to finish, both in writing and direction. In his earlier films, cameos such as Suriya’s in Vikram felt exciting; here, they come across as mere gimmicks.
At its core, “Coolie” is a revenge drama. Lokesh opens strongly by introducing the villain gang first, hinting that they are involved in an unusual smuggling operation. He then brings in Rajinikanth’s character and ties his story to the death of his friend, setting him on a collision course with the antagonists Simon (Nagarjuna) and Dayal. This opening stretch of around 40 minutes is well handled and holds the audience’s attention.
However, once it is revealed that the gang is not smuggling but involved in trafficking (details avoided to prevent spoilers), the freshness fades. The trafficking angle is a worn-out trope that feels as old as Rajinikanth’s career itself.
From there, the film follows two threads: Rajinikanth’s mission to uncover the truth about his friend’s death, and his search for his daughter. Both arcs drag on without delivering high points, while the much-hyped flashback episode of him as a coolie three decades ago is disappointingly dull. The second half suffers from silly situations, convenient plot turns, and a lack of emotional or narrative grip. The only standout in this portion is Rachita Ram’s character and the twist surrounding her, which briefly provides some whistle-worthy moments.
“Coolie” exposes Lokesh Kanagaraj’s weaknesses: an overdependence on star power, excessive reliance on Anirudh’s music, and unnecessary star cameos. While Anirudh Ravichander does lift the film in places, his background score often turns loud and grating. The cameos by Aamir Khan and Upendra are downright silly, seemingly done out of respect for Rajinikanth despite the fact that their roles are little more than caricatures.
Coming to performances, Superstar Rajinikanth carries the film on the strength of his sheer star power and magnetic charisma. His styling, from hairstyle to costumes, matches the quality of “Jailer” (though Jailer still remains my favorite). Performance-wise, Rajinikanth keeps it subtle for the most part, and the role is an effortless fit for him. Shruti Haasan gets a well-defined character and delivers one of her best performances.
Sadly, ‘King’ Nagarjuna is reduced to ‘Kingpin’ in a straight, one-dimensional villain role with no unique traits. Sathyaraj is adequate, while Soubin Shahir truly shines, clearly enjoying his part with an infectious glee in his expressions. Rachita Ram is another pleasant surprise, delivering strong moments in the latter half.
Among the technicians, Anirudh once again stands out, as mentioned earlier. The rest of the technical crew does its job well, but the bloated runtime should have been trimmed. As both writer and director, Lokesh Kanagaraj delivers a weak effort here. His storytelling is becoming repetitive. Unfortunately, he has not learned from Leo’s “second-half syndrome.”
Bottom-line: “Coolie” offers a few highlights, such as an engaging first hour, Rajinikanth’s magnetic screen presence, and some cinematic moments. However, the mediocre writing and a clumsy final act drag it down. The execution is flat, with hardly any surprises. It starts on a promising note but ultimately turns into a drag.
Rating: 2.75/5
By Jalapathy Gudelli
Movie: Coolie
Cast: Rajinikanth, Nagarjuna Akkineni, Upendra, Aamir Khan, Soubin Shahir, Shruti Haasan, Sathyaraj, and others
Music: Anirudh Ravichander
DOP: Girish Gangadharan
Editor: Philomin Raj
Action Stunts: Anbariv
Producer: Kalanithi Maran
Written and Directed by: Lokesh Kanagaraj
Release Date: August 14, 2025
