Coolie released on August 14 2025, under the direction of Lokesh Kanagaraj. The film stars Rajinikanth in the lead role. Alongside him are Shruti Haasan, Soubin Shahir, Upendra, Nagarjuna, Sathyaraj, Aamir Khan and many more. The movie promised to be a massive entertainer and came with the usual Lokesh hype. But post release Coolie leaves us with mixed feelings.
The casting is something that stands out first. Every actor played their part well. The screen presence was balanced even with such a huge lineup. Characters did not just appear for namesake. They were given something to do. But the problem is with the writing. The characterisation was poor. Anybody could have filled the cameo roles. Nagarjuna’s villain role had style but was weak in depth. Shruti, Soubin and Rachitha stood out but others had no scope. The film did not need such a heavy casting.
The plot is another weak link. It starts at one point moves to something else and ends at another. Many scenes had no link to the core story. Events take place without clear reason or follow up. Some moments stands on their own without belonging to the core. The story felt scattered. It was never tightened by the director. The loopholes were many and they hurt the backbone of the movie.
The screenplay did not help either. It had the same rhythm as earlier Lokesh films. A few twists came but they faded quickly. Nothing remained in the mind after the scenes had passed. The film kept drifting without focus. Even though it was designed as a larger than life film it crossed into excess and broke its own balance.
On the technical side Coolie shines. Cinematography was strong. Lokesh and his team framed the film beautifully. The use of colours the tone of the visuals and the fight sequences were handled well. Even though some fights felt too much for Rajini they were choreographed smartly. The camera work covered the weak spots and gave the film grandeur.
Music was another major strength. Though Anirudh has reached the point of saturation, here he delivered with energy. The songs may not have been needed for a film like this but the background score was outstanding. It lifted many flat scenes and gave them power. The sound design alone made a few moments memorable.
Now the big concern. Coolie once again falls into the Lokesh template. Revenge motive, flashback, retro songs, cameos and a hero centred story. He repeats what worked in his earlier films. But repetition has now turned into saturation. Lokesh is a strong filmmaker but his writing is his weakest area. From Master to Vikram to Leo and now Coolie the flaws in writing are clear. The films look grand and even match international standards in making but the soul is missing.
The story of Coolie in its core is just a revenge tale. But instead of driving the plot on one line it keeps spinning around. Questions keep rising during the film. Why is this scene here. Who is this character. What is the purpose. Not in a way that excites us but in a way that shows the film is half written. The lack of clarity breaks the flow.
Coolie has moments. It has technical brilliance. It has Rajini carrying the film with his presence. But it also has poor writing weak characters and a story that collapses at times. Lokesh may need to take a break and rethink. Because style alone cannot hold a film forever. But it sure is not as bad as the social media posts portray.
Rating: 6/10⭐️
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