Warning: Rajini fans are advised to not proceed with reading this review as truth bombs will surely hurt.
Coolie, directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj (Loki) and starring Rajinikanth, had all the ingredients for a blockbuster: mass appeal, high-octane action, and a gritty premise bringing together a powerhouse cast including Nagarjuna, Soubin Shahir, Upendra, Shruti Haasan, Sathyaraj, and Aamir Khan.
However, the film ultimately disappoints, delivering a clumsy, uneven experience that tests the audience’s patience more than entertains.
Lokesh Kanagaraj has often been hailed as a master of the “mass film,” yet Coolie only strengthens the argument that he’s overrated. Like Master, Leo, and Vikram, this outing also suffers from the same fatal flaw: no good story, no engaging screenplay, and an overreliance on fan service.
Story and Screenplay
The narrative revolves around a former coolie union leader who stands up against a corrupt syndicate exploiting workers at a port. While the premise has potential, the execution is weak. The screenplay is clumsy and inconsistent, with the story oscillating between friendship-revenge drama, mass hero moments, and forced flashbacks. Weak characterization leaves most of the cast underutilized, including Rajinikanth himself, who, despite being central, has limited scope in the early portions.
First Half
The film starts with promise but quickly loses steam. Nagarjuna adds style and charisma, especially in sequences like the “I Am the Danger” song, but his character is poorly fleshed out. Soubin Shahir holds his own and emerges as one of the film’s few saving graces. Shruti Haasan and Rachita Ram perform well but are constrained by the weak storyline. The first half has moments of entertainment, including the interval block, which briefly showcases Lokesh’s signature style, but overall, the pacing is sluggish, and the story feels thin.
Second Half
The second half is the true test of endurance. The pacing is slow, with dragged-out flashbacks, repetitive action sequences, and irritating character arcs. Action scenes are overlong and occasionally cartoonish. Even high-profile cameos, such as Aamir Khan’s, feel entirely unnecessary. Attempts at infusing “Rajinism” into the film are overdone and fail to energize the story. How long will directors keep milking Rajini’s stardom and nostalgia to churn out one failure after another?
What (Barely) Works?
Nagarjuna’s Charisma – The film’s brightest spark. His swagger in “I Am The Danger” and flashback sequences are the only moments with real energy.
Anirudh’s Soundtrack – The background score is pulsating, though it can’t salvage the weak storytelling. This is the only saving grace, films are surviving because Anirudh’s thumping songs and BGM elevate the hero during slow-motion scenes. Nothing else.
A Few Well-Choreographed Fights – Some action sequences (especially a women-led brawl) are well-shot, but they’re buried under repetition.
Despite the high-profile cast, the production feels cheap. Most scenes are confined to Vizag or a port set, with minimal grandeur. Even the much-hyped Monica song fails to impress. The film’s attempt to create a pan-India appeal, with flashy visuals, mass sequences, and post-credit scenes, falls flat as audiences walk out mid-show.
Overall Verdict
Till 14 August 2025, Leo was the weakest film in Loki’s filmography. Coolie has now replaced Leo. Coolie is Lokesh Kanagaraj’s weakest outing so far, a formulaic, overstuffed film that fails to balance mass appeal with coherent storytelling. This film will probably be at the top of the list of mega flops following the release of Indian 2 and Thug Life, big hype, star power, but zero satisfaction.
Bottom Line
Coolie is a time-waster, a patience tester, and a big-budget flop hiding behind star names. Nothing can save this one, making it a disappointing experience for cinephiles expecting a pan-India action spectacle.
Having one token star from every state and one Hindi big name like Aamir Khan won’t magically give you a pan-India blockbuster. Please don’t think audiences are “Kena Coo Coo Coo*ie”.
If you want to be the next KGF, Pushpa, RRR or Baahubali, you need actual substance. Even if the story is thin, the way you tell it matters even more. Sadly, Tamil cinema is in a deep crisis of good storytellers. Lokesh Kanagaraj showed promise with Maanagaram and Kaithi, but most of his later films have been overhyped fan-service spectacles — nothing more. Thankfully, Anirudh’s music salvaged those otherwise underwhelming projects.
And to Rajini fans: stop going over the moon for every subpar film just because it stars him. As fans, you should demand better scripts — or urge him to retire gracefully — instead of forcing cinephiles to endure cheap rehashes clinging to his glory days.
Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.
