Overview & Team Behind the Film
Directed and co-written by Lokesh Kanagaraj, Coolie marks its release on August 14, 2025, as a standalone project celebrating Rajinikanth’s golden jubilee year WikipediaThe Times of IndiaIndiatimes. Produced by Kalanithi Maran under Sun Pictures, the movie boasts a stellar technical team: Anirudh Ravichander delivers the music, Girish Gangadharan handles cinematography, and Philomin Raj takes care of editing Wikipedia.
Cast & Performances
The ensemble cast features Rajinikanth in the lead role, supported by Nagarjuna Akkineni, Soubin Shahir, Upendra, Shruti Haasan, Sathyaraj, and a special appearance by Aamir Khan. Social media buzz especially lauded Nagarjuna’s performance as the antagonist, with fans calling it impressive . However, some critics felt Aamir Khan’s cameo lacked punch, and expressed mixed feelings about narrative depth.
Audience Response & Box Office Performance
The excitement around Coolie was palpable:
- A fan frenzy erupted with milk showers, dhol beats, confetti, and impromptu celebrations both in India and abroad. The film grossed a record-breaking ₹100 crore in advance ticket sales even before release.
- In the U.S., premiere pre-sales crossed over $3 million, making it the highest-grossing Tamil film premiere in history .
- Estimates point toward a strong worldwide debut, potentially exceeding ₹150 crore.
Mixed Reviews & Fan Feedback
Reactions are polarized. Many fans praised Rajinikanth’s magnetic presence and Anirudh’s powerful score. Key sequences—like the interval block and mansion fight—were widely discussed on social platforms.
Yet several viewers flagged concerns:
- The screenplay, particularly in the second half, feels uneven and overly long .
- Some called the story formulaic and lacking originality.
- A TikTok-style evaluation: “First half engaging, second half drags” and “Aamir’s role underwhelming compared to expectations” .
Piracy’s Shadow
Alarmingly, Coolie was leaked on piracy platforms such as Tamilrockerz and Telegram just hours after release, undermining the box office potential and threatening the creative ecosystem reported by The Indian Express. This underscores a recurring challenge for Indian cinema: illegal distribution disrupting revenue, hurting creators, and ultimately degrading audience experience.
Final Thoughts
Coolie is undeniably one of the year’s most talked-about releases. It stands as a celebratory yet ambitious comeback for Rajinikanth, driven by strong fan devotion, spectacular music, and high-stakes promotion. While it excels in star power and spectacle, it struggles with pacing and narrative depth.
For fans of the Superstar—or adrenaline-rich action thrillers—it offers plenty to enjoy. But for those expecting a tightly knit storyline, Coolie might feel like a ride mixed with fireworks and occasional turbulence.
