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‘Coolie’ Review: Rajinikanth Shines in Moments, But Lokesh Kanagaraj’s Crime Drama Stumbles

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By [OoxNews] | August 14, 2025


Rajinikanth’s Coolie promised a dream pairing — Tamil cinema’s most beloved superstar joining forces with modern action auteur Lokesh Kanagaraj. On paper, it was a box-office slam dunk. In reality, the result is a mixed bag: flashes of superstar brilliance, weighed down by uneven pacing and surprisingly flat action sequences.

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The Setup: Grit, Smuggling, and Betrayal

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In Coolie, Rajinikanth plays Deva, a former port worker who has climbed into wealth but still carries the weight of his working-class roots. When his best friend Rajasekhar dies under suspicious circumstances, Deva dives into a dangerous web involving luxury watch smuggling, ruthless enforcers, and old betrayals.


The film’s villains — Dayalan (a magnetic Soubin Shahir) and crime boss Simon (Nagarjuna Akkineni) — control the docks with an iron fist, setting the stage for Deva’s investigation and eventual reckoning.

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Rajinikanth at 74: Charm Intact, Energy Measured

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For global fans accustomed to Rajini’s gravity-defying stunts, Coolie offers a slightly different spectacle. At 74, the superstar delivers sharp style moments — from a playful hero intro song to his trademark swagger — but director Lokesh wisely leans into his screen presence rather than overloading him with action-heavy choreography.


That said, the weariness in Rajini’s close-ups isn’t hidden — and in some scenes, it works in favor of the emotional beats.

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The First Half: Intrigue Without Urgency

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The opening hour is packed with plot, which is unusual for a modern Rajinikanth film. There are solid character setups, but little sense of escalating danger until a gripping pre-intermission graveyard sequence. While a few comic fight scenes (including one in a women’s hostel) nod to classic “Rajinisms,” they’re scattered rather than sustained.

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The Second Half: Momentum Slows

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After the interval, Coolie loses its narrative tightness. An underdeveloped romantic subplot, repetitive violence, and sidelining of Nagarjuna’s villain waste potential. The film’s best character turns out to be Soubin Shahir’s Dayalan, whose unpredictable personality and menace keep the tension alive far more than the main antagonist.


Shruti Haasan gives a committed performance as Preethi, but her role is underwritten, leaving her as more of a plot device than a fully realized character.

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Lokesh Kanagaraj’s Signature Moves — This Time, Less Effective

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Lokesh’s previous hits (Kaithi, Vikram, Master) blended gritty realism with emotionally charged storytelling. Coolie aims for the same balance but misses the emotional core that would make the action truly resonate.


Some stylistic choices — a retro ’90s song drop, repeated shock visuals — feel recycled rather than fresh. Even the much-hyped “A” certificate violence lacks the cinematic punch Lokesh is known for.

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The Bright Spots


Anirudh Ravichander’s music — pulsating background score keeps scenes alive


Soubin Shahir’s performance — steals almost every scene he’s in


A few standout Rajini moments — brief, but they remind you why he’s a legend

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Verdict

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Coolie is not a disaster — but it’s also far from the Rajinikanth-Lokesh Kanagaraj collaboration fans imagined. It has style, scattered thrills, and strong supporting performances, but without a deeper emotional hook, it feels like a missed opportunity.


Rating: 2.5/5 — For Rajini fans, it’s worth watching once. For action purists, Lokesh’s earlier films remain the gold standard.


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