Coolie is a Tamil action thriller that marks the much awaited collaboration between Superstar Rajinikanth and Director Lokesh Kanagaraj. Produced by Sun Pictures, this star studded film has Rajinikanth, Nagarjuna Akkineni, Soubin Shahir, Upendra, Shruti Haasan, Sathyaraj and a cameo by Aamir Khan. With music by Anirudh Ravichander, Coolie promised a pan-Indian biggie. While it has moments of vintage Rajinikanth and stylish action, the film’s complicated plot and uneven pace doesn’t allow it to reach the heights of Kanagaraj’s earlier films like Vikram or Kaithi. Here’s what works and what doesn’t in this big action film.
Coolie Movie Plot: A Revenge Saga with a Complex Web
Against the backdrop of Visakhapatnam’s port, Coolie is about Devaraj “Deva” (Rajinikanth), a former coolie union leader who now runs a strict boarding house in Chennai. The story begins when Deva’s close friend Rajasekhar (Sathyaraj), an inventor of a mobile cremation device, dies under mysterious circumstances. Deva suspects foul play and sets out to uncover the truth, which leads him to a smuggling ring headed by the ruthless Simon (Nagarjuna) and his henchman Dayal (Soubin Shahir). As Deva digs deeper, he has to protect Rajasekhar’s daughter Preethi (Shruti Haasan) and unravel the secrets from his past that tie to the present.
The story jumps across multiple timelines, with flashbacks of Deva’s younger days as a dock worker (with the help of de-aging technology) and a present day revenge saga. The film deals with union solidarity, betrayal and moral corruption, but its ambitious scope makes the story cluttered with too many subplots.
Coolie Movie Performances: Rajinikanth and Ensemble Shine
At 74, Rajinikanth is the heart and soul of Coolie. His screen presence, swagger and dialogue delivery gets cheers, especially in the action sequences and pre-interval block. The de-aging effects in the flashback scenes are not perfect, but it’s good to see a younger Deva for the fans. Rajinikanth balances high energy action with emotional depth and makes Deva a nice mix of benevolence and grit.
Soubin Shahir stands out as Dayal and delivers a menacing yet nuanced performance that steals many scenes. His arc is one of the highlights of the film and is a great counter to Rajinikanth’s hero. Nagarjuna as the stylish but one dimensional villain. Simon is charismatic but limited by the role. Shruti Haasan as Preethi is a mixed bag; she delivers a good performance, but her character is reduced to a damsel in distress most of the time and is underutilized. Sathyaraj is dignified as Rajasekhar and Rachita Ram is good in a small but well crafted role. Upendra and Aamir Khan’s cameos add star power but are underutilized and the latter gets the crowd going with his one scene.
Strengths: Rajinikanth’s Aura and Technical Brilliance
Coolie rides on Rajinikanth’s star power and carries the film through its weak portions. The first half is engaging with a strong setup, stylish action sequences by Anbariv and a gripping pre-interval block that sets the tone high. Anirudh Ravichander’s music is a big plus with songs like “Chikutu” and the background score that elevates the action scenes, though the emotional cues are clichéd at times. Girish Gangadharan’s cinematography captures the grime of the port and the vibrancy of Chennai while Philomin Raj’s editing keeps the first half tight. The mansion fight and Rajinikanth-Nagarjuna face-offs are the highlights, delivering the “Rajini moments” the fans want.
The film’s theme of union solidarity and the subtle hints of religious corruption (Simon’s electric chair like cremation device) adds depth, though not fully explored. The production values by Sun Pictures ensure a big screen experience and the film’s record breaking 151 crore worldwide opening day is a testament to that, making it the biggest Tamil film of 2025.
Shortcomings: A Convoluted Second Half
Coolie falters in the second half, where the pacing issues and overstuffing of the plot dilute the momentum. The narrative jumps between too many subplots - family secrets, smuggling operations and personal vendettas - and feels disjointed. The screenplay lacks the emotional core of Kanagaraj’s earlier films and the absence of major twists or surprises is disappointing given the director’s reputation for clever storytelling.
Shruti Haasan’s underwritten role and the underutilization of Upendra and Aamir Khan feels like a missed opportunity. The Telugu dubbing for some characters, including Shruti’s is off-mark and some action sequences, though stylish feels repetitive or overlong. Critics have said the film lacks the cohesion of Vikram or the intensity of Kaithi and feels like a watered down version of Kanagaraj’s style. The de-aging effects, though ambitious, doesn’t always blend well and the climax, though action packed feels predictable.
Final Verdict
Coolie is a watchable action drama that rides on Rajinikanth’s charm, Soubin Shahir’s performance and Anirudh’s music. It has enough fan service—cool fights, punchy dialogues and a lively first half—to make it a treat for Rajinikanth fans celebrating his 50 years. But the second half is meandering, characters are underdeveloped and lacks depth. For pure Rajini style mass entertainment, Coolie is a fun ride but not up to the mark of this director-star combo.
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