Coolie Movie Review: Rajinikanth’s Charisma Shines, but the Film Lacks Freshness
Director Lokesh Kanagaraj’s Coolie, starring Rajinikanth, Shruti Haasan, and Sathyaraj, is a template revenge thriller that takes more detours than necessary. While the story is rooted in themes of vengeance, frequent diversions weaken its grip.
Rajinikanth’s stardom and magnetic screen presence manage to keep the audience engaged to some extent, but beyond that, the film offers little that feels new or impactful. The lack of freshness in the screenplay and the slow narrative pace make Coolie an average cinematic experience.
Coolie Movie Review: Rajinikanth’s Charisma Shines, but the Film Lacks Freshness
Director Lokesh Kanagaraj’s Coolie, starring Rajinikanth, Shruti Haasan, and Sathyaraj, is a template revenge thriller that takes more detours than necessary. While the story is rooted in themes of vengeance, frequent diversions weaken its grip.
Rajinikanth’s stardom and magnetic screen presence manage to keep the audience engaged to some extent, but beyond that, the film offers little that feels new or impactful. The lack of freshness in the screenplay and the slow narrative pace make Coolie an average cinematic experience.
Coolie: One of 2025’s Most Hyped Films Falls Short of Expectations
The year 2025 has been an unusual one for spectacle films, not just in Kollywood but across the Indian film industry, with only a few notable exceptions. Among the most anticipated releases was ‘Coolie’, touted as one of the biggest cinematic events of the year.
Backed by an impressive ensemble cast and a massive pre-release buzz, Coolie was marketed as a potential pan-India blockbuster. It seemingly had all the ingredients for success — a director with an impeccable track record, Rajinikanth in the lead, and a diverse star cast that promised appeal across regions.
However, despite its scale and hype, the film struggles to live up to its towering expectations, leaving audiences with style but less substance.
Coolie Review: A Stylish Start That Fizzles into Half-Baked Storytelling
Has ‘Coolie’ lived up to the hype? Not quite.
The film spans multiple timelines and locations. The death of Rajasekhar (Sathyaraj) leaves his elder daughter Preethi (Shruti Haasan) and her two sisters struggling to cope. His long-time friend Deva (Rajinikanth), who runs a mansion house, arrives to pay his respects, only to be met with hostility from Preethi, who asks him to leave. Days later, Deva discovers that there is more to Rajasekhar’s death than meets the eye.
The story then introduces Simon (Nagarjuna), the head of a smuggling syndicate engaged in various illegal activities, and Dayalan (Soubin Shahir), who controls the port where many workers are exploited and killed. As Deva investigates, the mystery surrounding Rajasekhar’s death pulls him deeper into the dangerous worlds of Simon and Dayalan. Questions arise — What was Rajasekhar’s role? Why was he connected to this underworld? — and the film promises answers over its 2-hour-49-minute runtime.
Director Lokesh Kanagaraj, celebrated for redefining Tamil cinema with his distinct style, had set expectations sky-high when news broke of his collaboration with Rajinikanth. Unfortunately, Coolie emerges as one of his weakest outings to date.
The film begins with a stylish, well-paced build-up to Rajinikanth’s grand entry, sending fans into a frenzy. But as the narrative unfolds, it becomes crowded with half-baked subplots that may set the stage in the first half but remain under-explored in the larger scheme, leaving the overall story feeling incomplete.
Coolie Review: Rajinikanth’s Charisma Shines, but an Overstuffed Story Holds It Back
At 74, Rajinikanth’s charisma, wit, and magnetic screen presence remain as strong as ever. In Coolie, a single close-up of his eye is enough to electrify the audience, and the film leans heavily on such moments. These shots draw applause, yet they stand in stark contrast to director Lokesh Kanagaraj’s usually distinctive visual style. The filmmaker’s trademarks—retro songs, music-driven fight sequences, and non-linear storytelling—are all present, but this time, they fail to strike the intended chord.
The central problem with Coolie lies in its overstuffing of ideas. What begins as a revenge thriller about a man seeking answers for his friend’s death soon morphs into the tale of a common man exposing a crime syndicate. The shift is abrupt, leaving you appreciating certain standout moments but feeling underwhelmed by the whole.
Rajinikanth gives the film his all, but the script does little justice to his effort. The narrative frequently jumps between his character, Soubin, and Simon, without creating meaningful impact. Soubin’s arc has potential, but it feels underdeveloped. Nagarjuna, as Simon, looks stylish but suffers from a one-dimensional role, relying purely on his screen charm. Shruti Haasan’s portrayal of Preethi stands out as one of her most compelling performances in recent times, while Kanna Ravi and Rachitha Ram impress despite limited screen time.
Loose ends and fragmented storytelling make Coolie an inconsistent watch. While Rajinikanth seems to enjoy himself, the film itself doesn’t deliver the same enjoyment to the audience. Its string of cameos—much like in Jailer—loses impact because most were revealed before release. Even high-profile appearances by Aamir Khan and Upendra, though exciting on paper, add little value and fail to honor their legacy.
In the end, Coolie thrives in flashes—thanks largely to Rajinikanth—but falters as a complete cinematic experience.
Coolie Review: Technical Brilliance Overshadowed by Overstuffed Storytelling
Technically, Coolie stands tall. From Girish Gangadharan’s striking cinematography to Anirudh Ravichander’s pulsating background score, every technical department shines. The film’s sound design, production design, and VFX work seamlessly to create a grand visual and auditory experience.
However, despite these strengths, director Lokesh Kanagaraj’s Coolie ends up as an underwhelming entertainer weighed down by an excess of ideas. The screenplay struggles to balance its multiple threads, leaving the narrative feeling overcrowded and unfocused.
If not for Rajinikanth’s commanding screen presence and Anirudh’s electrifying music, the film might have completely lost its footing. These two elements inject life into an otherwise inconsistent cinematic experience.