Rajinikanth's 'Coolie' Divides Critics: A Flawed Masterpiece or Pale Imitation?

As of 2025-08-14T10:07:57+00:00, the much-anticipated Tamil film 'Coolie', starring the legendary Rajinikanth, has been released and is generating a mixed response from critics. The film, directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, approaches Rajinikanth's iconic star persona with a blend of old-school reverence and a slight tongue-in-cheek irreverence.

While the film's setup is promising, with Rajinikanth's character Deva being informed of the passing of his long-lost friend Rajasekhar, the narrative quickly becomes convoluted and struggles to maintain a cohesive flow. Lokesh Kanagaraj's writing is criticized for its laboriously meandering construction, as the film jumps between various storylines and characters without a clear sense of direction.

However, the film does feature some standout performances, particularly from Nagarjuna and Soubin Shahir, who play the sinister villains and revel in their on-screen antics. Composer Anirudh's score is also praised as a welcome respite amidst the film's tonal inconsistencies.

Overall, 'Coolie' is a mixed bag, with Rajinikanth's magnetic screen presence and the film's intriguing ideas unable to overcome the weaknesses in Lokesh Kanagaraj's execution. As of 2025-08-14T10:07:57+00:00, the film's reception remains divided, with some hailing it as a flawed masterpiece and others dismissing it as a pale imitation of the director's previous works.