Coolie Movie Review: A stylish star vehicle with moments fans will cherish.

In Coolie, Lokesh Kanagaraj attempts to pack all the signature elements that have worked for him before – intense setups, stylish hero intro, layered characterization for the protagonist, vintage songs, surprise cameos, gritty action, dad–daughter sentiment, emotional beats beneath the violence, and three big high points (beginning, interval, climax). These give scattered adrenaline rushes, but they’re just moments – the overall film doesn’t hold up to the same standard.

The central story, mixing elements of coolies and tech in a non-linear narrative, is promising on paper. However, too many subplots and diversions flatten the investigative portions, dilute the impact, and make the second half a mixed bag. What should have been tense and gripping ends up underwhelming and routine.

The first half moves tidily with enjoyable songs, a well-staged hostel fight, and some solid mass moments. The mansion fight in the second half and the flashback portions also land well. But at 168 minutes, the film feels long, with several dry stretches that test patience.

Anirudh’s music and the strong technical work elevate the visuals greatly, but the real shortfall lies in the writing – the conflicts and core situations just aren’t strong enough to carry the weight of its ambitions. And, kudos to the team behind the impressive de-aging work, it was a delight to see a vintage Rajinikanth back on the big screen, bringing nostalgia and style in equal measure.

Superstar Rajinikanth shoulders the entire film with an aura-filled, serious, and settled performance. Soubin Shahir is a ruthless scene-stealer, while Nagarjuna looks stylish but has an underwritten villain role. Rachita Ram is a surprise, Uppendra lands a couple of crowd-pleasing moments, and Aamir Khan’s cameo adds a brief spark though the staging feels flat. Shruti Haasan is earnest in the role offered to her, making a sincere effort, though we wish she had been given more scope to shine.

Coolie delivers a full-on action drama experience, woven with an emotional core that is likely to strike a chord with many. While the film leans heavily into its mass appeal and fan-service moments, a slightly toned-down approach to the violence could have made it more accessible to family audiences. Nonetheless, it stands as a stylish entertainer that delivers memorable moments for fans throughout.

Coolie Movie Rating: 3/5