Coolie Movie Review: In the scorching heat of Tamil action thrillers, Lokesh Kanagaraj’s Coolie comes hurtling onto screens like a freight train with superstar swag, only to derail mid-journey under the weight of its own ambitions. Released on August 14, 2025 by Sun Pictures, this 169 minute monster is the first collaboration between the director of Vikram and Kaithi and Tamil superstar Rajinikanth, whose 170th film this is. With a massive cast featuring Nagarjuna as the shadowy kingpin Simon, Soubin Shahir as his loyal sidekick Dayal, Shruti Haasan as the feisty Preethi and surprise cameos from Aamir Khan and Upendra, Coolie promises a high-octane tale of smuggling, revenge and redemption. But what starts as a thunderous tribute to Rajinikanth’s star power becomes a jumbled mess of subplots and half-baked twists and leaves you exhilarated in bits but exhausted by the end.
The story begins at the Vizag port where Deva (Rajinikanth) a grizzled old gold smuggler comes out of retirement to reclaim his past glory by reviving his old gang. With stolen technology hidden in antique gold watches Deva’s quest spirals out of control when it unearths secrets from his past – unfinished vendettas, betrayals and a web of corruption linked to Simon’s empire. Kanagaraj being the master of interconnected crime universes weaves in flashbacks to Deva’s “coolie” days, blending hyper violent set pieces with nostalgic nods to Rajinikanth’s mass hero era. The narrative is Kanagaraj’s signature style – rapid fire betrayals, moral gray areas and a relentless pursuit of justice that feels both intimate and epic. But as alliances break and the body count rises the script written by Kanagaraj himself starts to strain under the weight of too many threads – Dayal’s comic relief and Preethi’s damsel in distress arc and the second half piles on twists faster than you can unpack them.
Rajinikanth is 74 and still the film’s heart and gravity, Deva a perfect blend of paternal wisdom and balletic brutality. Whether he’s dispatching goons with a flick of his wrist or delivering old-school one-liners that get the theatre to cheer, he warps every scene around him – think a wigged intro that screams “Thalaivar is back!” His emotional depth shines in quiet moments, balancing high-octane action with heart felt introspection, though the de-aged flashback sequence is a misfire and undermines the gravitas. Nagarjuna is cool and menacing as the villain Simon and elevates the power dynamics, Soubin Shahir steals scenes as the bumbling but brave Dayal and brings in the levity in the grim proceedings. Shruti Haasan brings fire to Preethi but her character’s repeated kidnappings become frustrating and reduces her to plot device. The cameos – Aamir Khan’s understated entry and Upendra’s flashy bit – add star power but feel like detours, Khan’s role is underutilized despite his script blind commitment to the project. Sathyaraj, Rachita Ram and Kaali Venkat are good in their supporting roles but many characters get lost in the overcrowding.
Technically Coolie is a mixed bag. Girish Gangadharan’s cinematography is great in bits and pieces. He captures the port’s industrial grime and global chases with fluid intensity. Rain-slicked brawls and neon-drenched club sequences that pay homage to Breaking Bad and Monica Bellucci. Anirudh Ravichander’s score is electronic fury. Thumping beats and a standout item song with Pooja Hegde that erupts into pure mass euphoria. Anbariv’s stunt team delivers bone-crunching choreography. Rajinikanth’s fights are a mix of grace and gore that defies his age. But Philomin Raj can’t salvage the runtime’s bloat. Fluff scenes drag and the climax’s machinations are nonsensical and waste the setup. Sathees Kumar’s production design is lived-in underworld but VFX in explosive composites looks rushed and pulls you out of the film.
At the end of the day Coolie is a full on ode to Rajinikanth’s legacy—vintage swag meets modern grit in a film that is all about fan service from thumka-laden intros to crowd-rousing dialogues. It gets the mass appeal with energy, nostalgia and enough cool moments to forgive the messiness. 6.1 on IMDb and 3/5 from the critics. For die hard fans it’s a Thalaivar festival, best enjoyed in a packed theater where the hysteria amplifies the highs. But for those looking for a coherent narrative it’s a Vikram-lite: entertaining but uneven, with big ideas that don’t quite pay off. In a year of South Indian spectacles getting bigger and bigger Coolie roars loud but leaves you wanting a tighter load— a superstar vehicle that cruises on charm alone, will thrill more than linger.
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