Coolie (2025): Why Rajinikanth’s Star Power Couldn’t Save This Messy Thriller
The long-awaited pairing of Superstar Rajinikanth and director Lokesh Kanagaraj has finally arrived with Coolie, marking Rajini’s 171st film. This action thriller features a strong cast with Nagarjuna Akkineni, Soubin Shahir, Upendra, Shruti Haasan, and Sathyaraj. Special appearances by Aamir Khan and Pooja Hegde add more star power. Produced under Sun Pictures, the film has music by Anirudh Ravichander.
The film follows Devaraj Deva, a former coolie union leader investigating his friend’s death. What starts as a simple quest for justice spirals into a dark world of crime syndicates and corrupt business operations. Given Lokesh’s reputation for crafting high-octane action dramas, there was immense buzz around this project.
How the Story Plays Out
The film kicks off with a classic revenge setup. Deva wants answers about his friend’s suspicious death. Lokesh brings freshness by showing Simon’s illegal business operations through an interesting lens. There’s this electric chair device that destroys evidence, which adds a sinister layer to the whole investigation.
I noticed how the story weaves together different character threads. The violence feels almost like watching a brutal ballet, shocking yet strangely beautiful. But honestly, the plot gets tangled up in its own complexity. Some scenes left me wondering what just happened and how it connected to the bigger picture.
Cast Bringing Their A-Game
Rajinikanth owns every single frame he’s in. His screen presence as Devaraj is absolutely electric. The flashback sequences showing his younger self will have fans going wild in theatres. When he delivers those powerful dialogues, you remember exactly why he’s called Superstar. Nobody else can pull off that kind of charisma.
Nagarjuna playing a villain was a pleasant surprise. His character Simon has this perfect mix of charm and danger. I loved watching him embrace the dark side after years of playing heroes. Soubin Shahir completely steals scenes as Dayal. His energy is infectious, and he brings unexpected depth to what could’ve been just another bad guy.
What Really Works
The film’s strongest card is Rajinikanth’s magnetic performance. From minute one, he grabs your attention and doesn’t let go. The action sequences are brilliantly choreographed, mixing raw violence with artistic flair. I was blown away by how Lokesh makes even brutal fights look visually stunning. Each set piece feels carefully crafted.
Anirudh’s background score elevates everything. His music doesn’t just accompany scenes, it makes them memorable. The way his compositions sync with the action creates goosebumps. Girish Gangadharan’s camera work captures both the gritty street-level reality and the larger-than-life hero moments. Production quality stays consistently high throughout.
Where Things Go Wrong
My biggest gripe is the overly complicated screenplay. The story tries juggling too many plot threads and drops several along the way. The middle portions drag noticeably, testing your patience. I checked my watch a few times wondering when things would pick up again. That’s never a good sign.
The film lacks an emotional anchor. Sure, the visuals are stunning, but I never really connected with the characters’ journeys. Their motivations felt surface-level. The editing needs work too, some transitions feel jarring, breaking the flow. Scenes don’t always move smoothly into each other, which hurts the overall rhythm.
What Critics and Viewers Are Saying
Reviews have been all over the place. IMDb shows a 6.1 rating, reflecting how split opinions are. India TV awarded 3.5 stars, praising the direction and performances. Deccan Herald gave 3.5 stars too, calling out the action as a highlight. Both found things to appreciate despite the flaws.
Greatandhra.com was less impressed at 2.75 stars. They felt Rajini’s star power couldn’t save a weak script. 123telugu.com settled on 3 stars, acknowledging good technical work but pointing out screenplay problems. Variety’s review noted the film looks great but the story gets too messy to follow clearly.
Regular audiences seem divided based on what they wanted. Die-hard Rajini fans are celebrating the mass moments and his swagger. Casual moviegoers found it disappointing, especially those expecting a tight thriller. International viewers have been harsh, calling it slow-paced with flat storytelling. The general feeling is strong style over substance.
My Take on Coolie
Coolie rides entirely on Rajinikanth’s star power and Lokesh’s visual brilliance. Action sequences deliver genuine thrills, performances are solid across the board, and technical work shines. But the messy screenplay holds it back from greatness. For Rajini fans, there’s enough mass entertainment to justify the ticket price and theatre visit.
The film hits its stride when it focuses on pure entertainment. Nagarjuna and Soubin make their screen time count with impactful performances. Anirudh’s music combined with stunning action creates several memorable moments. These aspects alone make the theatrical experience worthwhile if you’re a fan of stylish action films.
However, the ambition to blend multiple genres results in a scattered narrative. The slow middle sections and rough editing create bumps in the journey. It promised to be a massive explosion of entertainment but ended up more like scattered fireworks, fun to watch but lacking the cohesive impact we hoped for from this dream team.
Rating: 3 out of 5
