�Coolie� Movie Review

Actors: Rajinikanth, Akkineni Nagarjuna, Upendra, Soubin Shahir, Sathyaraj, Shruti Haasan, Aamir Khan and others

Music: Anirudh Ravichander

Cinematography: Girish Gangadharan

Lyrics: Rakendu Mouli

Producer: Kalanidhi Maran

Screenplay: Lokesh Kanagaraj- Chandru Anbazhagan

Story-Direction: Lokesh Kanagaraj

Superstar Rajinikanth is celebrating 50 years in the film industry as an actor and �Coolie� is aimed to pay tribute to that. The film is directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, one of South India�s top directors. With Telugu star Nagarjuna playing the villain and Aamir Khan and Upendra in special roles, the hype around the film is huge. But does the movie live up to that expectation? Let�s take a look now.

Story:

Deva (Rajinikanth) is a middle-aged man managing a mansion in Visakhapatnam. When his friend Rajasekhar (Sathyaraj) dies under suspicious circumstances, Deva seeks out to uncover the truth behind his death. He soon realizes that Simon�s (Nagarjuna) gang, involved in illegal activities at the port, is responsible. To stop them, Deva infiltrates the gang and begins his mission. Naturally, the questions pop up� what was Rajasekhar�s background, why did Simon�s men target him, and what does Deva discover about Simon after entering the port? The story unfolds as Deva seeks justice and revenge for his friend�s death.

Analysis:

Lokesh Kanagaraj rose to fame with Khaidi and Vikram, and it�s fair to say that his name added huge hype to Coolie alongside superstar Rajinikanth. While he has shown skill for sure, he cannot deliver miracles every time, as was proved with Leo earlier, and it looks like Coolie is also joining the gang. In Coolie, the intentions of the characters and the purpose of key scenes are so unclear that we might understand only after watching the film multiple times. Lokesh introduces too many characters and backstories, but none, including Rajini�s hero role, leave a strong impression. There are a few fresh ideas like mobile cremation, organ smuggling, and others along with stylish moments, yet the film falls short of the expectations created by the Rajini-Lokesh collaboration.

Coolie opens up with interesting concepts, promising an engaging narrative; however, the curiosity dips as the time progresses. Rajini�s Deva, who is supposed to drive the story forward, feels underwhelming. Nagarjuna�s Simon only impresses visually, and the build-up around his character disappears once he appears on screen. Even the highly anticipated face-off between hero and villain lack tension and fail to captivate the attention.

The way Deva infiltrates Simon�s gang and his immediate success in uncovering their operations feels too convenient. Ideas like smuggling and organ trafficking are never fully explored, and the character of Daya (Soubin Shahir) flips here and there. Many plot points, including mobile cremation, initially promising, quickly become unconvincing. The logic behind the hero-villain games and the gang�s blind trust in Deva are flimsy, making things quite artificial.

The first half holds some attention, but the second half tests patience. Nag�s character fails to make an impact, and Deva feels secondary until the final half hour. The ending tries to elevate Rajini�s role after showcasing the worst already, but it only partially works. Attempts to use Aamir Khan�s cameo fall flat. Overall, Coolie struggles to maintain the excitement it promised, and the audience must keep their expectations low before watching.

Performances:

With Lokesh Kanagaraj at the helm, surely Superstar Rajinikanth was expected to shine, but his role as Deva feels half-baked. The magic fans anticipated is surely missing, and many of the action sequences seem unrealistic. While the final elevation scenes offer some respite, overall, the performance is a letdown. King Nagarjuna looks striking on the screen in the role of Simon and grabs attention whenever he appears, but his role lacks the depth needed to leave a strong impact as a villain.

Surprisingly, Shruti Haasan delivers quite well in a crucial part of the story, while Sathyaraj leaves an impression only in some scenes. Soubin Shahir stands out as the clear highlight of the film, impressing in the role of Daya. Upendra�s performance is forgettable, and Aamir Khan, though brief, makes a notable mark in the end. The rest of the cast performs adequately but without any standout moments.

Technicians:

Anirudh Ravichander does a terrific job with the music in Coolie. He added energy to a film that feels mostly sluggish. His songs and background score are lively, and the superhit track Monica Belluci is especially impressive, though its placement in the movie could have been better. Girish Gangadharan�s cinematography looks good, with night sequences shot in a style that fits Lokesh Kanagaraj�s vision. Sun Pictures� production values are decent but not exceptional.

Lokesh Kanagaraj mixes many elements in the film, but their impact on screen is limited. The writing is inconsistent, and no character feels fully developed. The screenplay is confusing at times, and the narration is boring in many parts. As a result, Coolie struggles to hold the audience�s attention inside theatres. While the movie has moments of visual style and musical energy, the lack of focused storytelling weakens it. The attempts to balance multiple threads and characters are not creating the excitement that the director anticipated.

Overall, Coolie shows that Lokesh needs to concentrate on clear storytelling. With better character development and a more concise screenplay, the film could have matched the hype surrounding Rajinikanth and the ensemble cast.

Finally: Coolie, More buildup, Less content.

Rating-2.5/5