Coolie Movie Review: Rajinikanth's Action Film Receives Mixed Reviews

Liputan6.com, Jakarta The highly anticipated Indian action thriller "Coolie" finally premiered in theaters worldwide on August 14, 2025.

Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj and starring superstar Rajinikanth, the film has garnered immense attention since its announcement.

This Sun Pictures production promises to be a standalone story, separate from the Lokesh Cinematic Universe (LCU), focusing on gold smuggling and the fight against a corrupt syndicate.

"Coolie" tells the journey of a former trade union leader, or "coolie," named Deva, who rises up against a criminal syndicate exploiting workers in a port city.

The 170-minute film features a star-studded cast, including Nagarjuna, Soubin Shahir, Upendra, Shruti Haasan, Sathyaraj, and even Aamir Khan in a cameo appearance.

With a staggering budget of around ₹350–400 crore, "Coolie" is shaping up to be one of the biggest productions in Indian cinema this year.

Production on "Coolie" began in July 2024, with principal photography in various locations including Chennai, Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Jaipur, and Bangkok, and was completed in mid-March 2025.

This film marks the first collaboration between Rajinikanth and Lokesh Kanagaraj, two of the biggest names in the Tamil film industry.

With slick cinematography by Girish Gangadharan and music by Anirudh Ravichander, "Coolie" is designed to be a captivating action spectacle.

One interesting aspect of "Coolie" is the "A" (adults only) certification it received from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

This makes it the first Rajinikanth film to receive this certification since "Siva" (1989) and also Lokesh Kanagaraj's first film with the same rating.

The excitement for "Coolie" was palpable long before its release. International advance ticket sales, which began on July 22, 2025, saw an overwhelming response, with pre-sale tickets worth ₹15 lakh sold within minutes in the United States alone.

Early reviews for "Coolie" have been largely mixed, or even mixed, from critics and audiences.

Many have praised Rajinikanth's charismatic screen presence and powerful performance as Deva, the film's main draw.

Anirudh Ravichander's music has also been widely recognized as a highlight, even being called the "soul" of the film, with melodies accompanying every action sequence.

As reported by The Economic Times, the first half of "Coolie" has been considered entertaining by some viewers, with the interlude and the mansion fight sequence particularly praised for their intensity.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), a fan shared their excitement after watching Coolie, praising Rajinikanth’s "vintage style, action, and strong screen presence".

They described the film as a full-on mass entertainer directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, expressing confidence that fans will thoroughly enjoy it.

The performances of supporting actors like Nagarjuna as Simon and Soubin Shahir as Dayal have also been highlighted as positive elements.

Some early reviews have even described the film as a fast-paced thriller with no let-up, particularly in the final 20 minutes and the climax, which is described as a visual treat with explosive action.

However, "Coolie" has also received considerable criticism, particularly regarding the second half, which has been described as confusing, illogical, and poorly scripted.

An unlinked narrative, a weak screenplay, and scenes that felt like random cuts were common complaints, especially from the X users.

Some viewers felt that forced cameos, including Aamir Khan's "botched" appearance, couldn't save the film from subpar execution.

Some critics even called "Coolie" Lokesh Kanagaraj's weakest work, suggesting the director's storytelling and poor connection.

For fans eager to catch Rajinikanth in action in "Coolie," the film was theatrically released worldwide on August 14, 2025.

In India, it received wide distribution, while overseas, "Coolie" was shown in select theaters in the United States and Canada under the distribution of Prathyangira Cinemas, with a premiere on August 13–14, 2025.

The film competed directly with the Hindi film "War 2," which also released during the same period.

Following its theatrical run, "Coolie" is scheduled to be available on the OTT platform Prime Video.

While a specific streaming release date has not been officially announced, it is expected to be available in mid-October 2025.