Lokesh Kanagaraj gauges audience reaction a bit late

Lokesh Kanagaraj’s much-hyped “Coolie,” starring Superstar Rajinikanth, turned out to be a disappointment despite a massive worldwide gross of nearly Rs 500 crore. The film incurred losses in key territories, including Tamil Nadu and the Telugu states, leaving distributors in the red.

Lokesh faced heavy trolling for what many called a weak narrative that leaned too much on star power and cameos. Even his ardent followers admitted that “Coolie” was his weakest outing so far. This setback came after a dream run where he delivered hits like Kaithi (Karthi), Master (Vijay), and Vikram (Kamal Haasan).

After returning from a brief vacation, Lokesh reportedly went on theater-hopping in Chennai, quietly sitting among the audience to watch their reactions. Observers say he noted where the viewers responded positively and where the film faltered.

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Industry buzz suggests that Lokesh is already planning his comeback with a massive multi-starrer featuring Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan. If confirmed, this project could mark his big bounce-back.