Coolie Review: Rajinikanth Shines in a Gripping First Half

Quick Summary

• Rajinikanth stars in his latest film,Coolie,directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj.
• The movie begins with Dhaya (played by Soubin Saahir) investigating shady activities involving port workers under Simon (Nagarjuna).
• Rajinikanth’s character, Deva, is introduced as someone detached from the chaos; he runs a mansion and enters the narrative without a grand introduction.
• The story features themes of friendship and betrayal through arcs involving Sathyaraj and Shruti Haasan alongside Rajinikanth’s character.
• Anirudh Ravichander’s soundtrack includes notable tracks like “Monica” and “Powerhouse.”
• The first half balances stylized action sequences,storytelling depth,and shades of grey in its characters.

Published on August 14,2025.

Indian Opinion Analysis

Rajinikanth’s Coolie seems to blend the Superstar’s iconic presence with Lokesh Kanagaraj’s hallmark storytelling. The restrained portrayal of Deva suggests an attempt to focus on plot-driven cinematic engagements beyond standard mass-action tropes. By intertwining complex relationships such as betrayal forged into friendship and showcasing morally shaded characters-like Nagarjuna’s role-the film could offer viewers more substance than spectacle.

Given high anticipation around this collaboration and speculation about links to Kanagaraj’s prior narratives (LCU, for example), Coolie represents another milestone for Tamil cinema while celebrating Rajinikanth’s fifty years in the industry.For audiences awaiting distinctive yet nostalgic narratives centered around India’s cinematic giants, this movie might be consequential both artistically and culturally.

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