Coolie (2025) [Movie Review]: A High-Energy Rajinikanth Party That Doesn’t Always Land

Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj and co-written with Chandhru Anbazhagan, Coolie (starring Rajinikanth, Nagarjuna, Soubin Shahir, Upendra, Aamir Khan, Shruti Haasan, and more) aims squarely at mass exhilaration. It’s an energetic tribute to a superstar legacy that delivers many crowd-pleasing moments — but close inspection reveals pacing bloat, predictable conveniences, and a reluctance to tighten its storytelling.

What it’s about: Plot in a paragraph

Deva (Rajinikanth) looks after Deva Mansion, a student hostel; following the suspicious passing of his friend Rajshekhar (Sathyaraj), a death certificate reveals the death appears to be a killing, not a natural demise. His search drags him into a Vizag smuggling racket led by Simon (Nagarjuna) and exposes a dangerous invention and secrets from Deva’s past. The setup mixes port-city crime, personal vendetta, and old wounds, tying past to present.

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Acting & Cameos: Star power examined

Rajinikanth gives exactly what his fanbase wants — commanding presence, well-timed punchlines, and moments of genuine grit. Nagarjuna makes a convincing antagonist, and Soubin Shahir brings memorable texture as an uneasy aide. Rachita Ram’s surprise entry is a highlight, while Upendra adds swagger as a compact foil. Cameos (including Aamir Khan) are smartly slotted and mostly enhance rather than distract. Support cast like Sathyaraj and Shruti Haasan provide solid ballast, even when the script asks them to do heavy lifting.

Direction & craft: Lokesh’s balancing act

Lokesh marries mass sensibilities with glossy production values: action choreography is punchy, and Anirudh’s score lifts set pieces. The de-aging and visual touches aim for nostalgia and largely succeed in delivering emotional beats. Yet the film often wears its reverence for Rajinikanth on its sleeve — entertaining, but sometimes self-congratulatory.

Where it falters: Pacing and padding

The biggest weakness is the bloated first half — songs, fan service, and character introductions slow momentum and undercut urgency. A few plot conveniences and uneven tonal shifts leave conflicts underexplored. While the second half tightens and rewards patience, the film could have benefited from leaner editing and sharper stakes earlier on.

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Final verdict: Who should watch?

Coolie is an electrifying mass entertainer for Rajinikanth devotees and viewers who enjoy star-driven spectacle. It’s often thrilling, intermittently profound, but imperfect: a film powered by charisma more than coherence. Recommended for crowds seeking nostalgia and action — with the caveat that story lovers may find it patchy.

Film Rating: 6.5 / 10