Directed by: Lokesh Kanagaraj
Cast Highlights: Rajinikanth as Deva, Nagarjuna as Simon (villain), Aamir Khan, Shruti Haasan, Upendra, Sathyaraj, Soubin Shahir
Music: Anirudh Ravichander
Cinematography: Girish Gangadharan
Release Date: August 14, 2025
Story & Performance: A Fierce Battle of Legends
Coolie opens with intense energy—introducing Rajinikanth’s Deva about 20 minutes in via a slick, memorable sequence. What follows is a gritty yarn of betrayal, smuggling, and a vendetta that escalates into a symphony of chaos. Early reviews claim this may be Rajinikanth’s most powerful mass avatar since Kabali, with fans hailing him as the “boss” once more. Nagarjuna is praised as the emotional backbone of the film, with Shruti Haasan singled out as the standout among the ensemble.
Music That Sparks Frenzy
Anirudh Ravichander offers not just a score, but a galvanizing beat extending beyond the film into daily online platforms. The soundtrack—in his fourth with Lokesh and in the fifth with Rajini—is releasing on August 2 and already has fan favorites like “Chikitu”, “Monica”, and “Powerhouse”.
Especially worth mentioning, the “Monica” song, with Pooja Hegde and one of the film’s highlight performances by Soubin Shahir, went viral—breaking over a million views and garnering admiration even from the Italian actress Monica Bellucci herself. Anirudh’s energetic background score adds yet another level of dramatic tension and emotional impact, adding an unbeatable performative energy to each of Rajini’s appearances
The Villain: Simon’s Heart of Darkness
Nagarjuna in a villainous character is a spectacular turn in his acting life, and he tackled it with abandon. Taking cues from Heath Ledger’s Joker, his “Simon” wears a purple-and-cream color scheme—imagining madness in costume designing.
He called the character “liberating,” citing the freedom to speak harsh lines and dim societal constraints—“say just shut up, get out”—with unflinching authority. nirudh’s dynamic background score further enhances dramatic tension and emotional beats, injecting an unmatched performative synergy to Rajini’s every appearance.
Cinematography: Gritty, Real, and Unsparing
Lokesh and cinematographer Girish Gangadharan chose realism—reaching for no CG and opting for real-world visual textures instead. Green-screening figured in for less than a minute, so each frame had physicality attached to it.
Framing by Gangadharan depicts Deva’s world in subdued tones and earthy palettes, adding emotional heft to the film. Shadowy alleys, busy docks, and shaded interiors add a tactile feel of atmosphere. Extreme attention to detailing, shot placement, and natural light ensure each beat of action feels visceral and true—not constructed.
Strengths That Crowd the Screen
- Legendary Return of Rajinikanth: His magnetic performance anchors the film—raw, anchored, and visceral.
- Nagarjuna’s Dangerous Elegance: A villain performance that feels fresh, unapologetic, and intriguingly unhinged.
- Anirudh Amplifies the Narrative: From viral tracks to score that anchors its scenes, the music is kinetic and emotionally rich.
- Authentic Cinematic Drive: No CG fluff—the gritty realism of locations, choreographed stunts, and camerawork stands out.
- Star-Studded Ensemble: Aamir Khan, Shruti Haasan, Upendra, and others add layers to an already dense narrative.
Caveats That Temper the Pace
- Second-Half Pacing Mistakes: Reviewers and audiences alike cite points where the story runs out of steam following the heightened first act
- Familiar Tropes, Predictable Beats: Some sequences retrace common Lokesh patterns and Rajini beats, offering diminishing surprise upon repeat viewing
- Supporting Roles Undershadowed: The ensemble is powerful but some of the players feel underwritten—less screen, fewer arcs.
Final Verdict: A Raw, Cinematic Stampede
Coolie is a blockbuster by nature—raw in narration, epic in action, and retro in collective energy. As a film craving Rajinikanth’s raw oomph and seal of mythological charisma with a modern edge, it delivers in large measures. Nagarjuna’s villainous turn pushes the powerplay further, with the performance remaining with the viewer even after the concluding frame.
Anirudh’s score works as the decoder of the film—engaging audiences instantly and stoking social frenzy. Cinesthetically, its earthy visual strategy revives the senses in the age of glazed VFX.
Yes, the story falters beneath the weight of its own aspirations now and then, but Coolie is not about subtlety, but about sensation—and in this world, it excels totally.