Coolie begins in Vizag’s bustling port, where crime lord Simon Xavier (Nagarjuna) and his right-hand man Dayal (Soubin Shahir) run a gruesome smuggling racket. After a police crackdown prevents them from disposing bodies at sea, they use an invention created by Rajasekhar (Sathyaraj) — a chair that incinerates bodies instantly. When Rajasekhar refuses to cooperate further, he is eliminated.
Enter Devaraj alias Deva (Rajinikanth), Rajasekhar’s lifelong friend and a former coolie union leader who now runs Deva Mansion, a hostel for men and students. His discovery of the real cause of Rajasekhar’s death propels him into Simon’s crime syndicate, forcing him to confront not just the killers but also shadows from his own past.
The central conflict sets the stage for a mass-loaded revenge saga, but the narrative, while thrilling, misses out on deepening its emotional core. The Rajini–Sathyaraj friendship, which could have been the emotional backbone, is sketched too briefly, and their bonding sequences don’t get the space they deserve. This absence of emotional baggage makes the stakes less personal than they should have been.
Rajinikanth: The Eternal Star Who Commands Every Frame
At 74, Rajinikanth proves once again that his screen presence is beyond comparison. Whether it is the flamboyant slow-motion walks, the sardonic smirks, or the electrifying fight sequences, Rajini holds the film together like a one-man army. The flashback portions, enhanced with seamless de-aging, allow audiences a nostalgic glimpse of vintage Rajini — and when paired with Sathyaraj, the result is pure cinema magic, even if too brief.
Deva is a layered character — a guardian, a crusader, and a man haunted by his past. Rajinikanth delivers with unmatched ease, ensuring that fans whistle at every turn, but also wishing the screenplay had allowed him more space to explore the pain of a friend’s loss.
Nagarjuna: A Charismatic Antagonist with Style
Nagarjuna’s Simon Xavier brings elegance and menace in equal measure. Unlike the raw brutality of Soubin Shahir’s Dayal, Simon operates with a corporate sophistication, making him a villain who commands respect and fear at once. His confrontation with Rajinikanth in the Kingpin headquarters, where he calmly outlines how the entire port functions under his iron grip, is chilling in its restraint. Later, when Simon orchestrates Rajasekhar’s downfall, Nagarjuna plays the moment with understated ruthlessness, proving why he remains one of the most charismatic actors in Indian cinema. His on-screen presence opposite Rajinikanth is electrifying — a battle of two veterans that feels both stylish and powerful.
Upendra: The Flashback Powerhouse
Upendra’s extended cameo in the flashback is one of Coolie’s most thrilling stretches. As Deva’s colleague at work and brother-in-arms, Upendra brings a raw intensity that perfectly complements Rajinikanth’s aura. Their combined action sequence in the Deva Mansion, where they take on an army of rivals together, is staged as a festival moment — a full-blown mass celebration that had theatres erupting. His dialogues though only a few lines, strike a chord, highlighting both camaraderie and respect. Though his role is brief, Upendra ensures it lingers long after, making fans wish Lokesh had explored more of his bond with Rajini’s character.
Aamir Khan: A Surprise Cameo That Stuns
Perhaps the biggest surprise of Coolie is Aamir Khan’s special cameo in the second half. Playing a high-profile arms dealer who briefly allies with Simon, Aamir’s role injects a different texture into the narrative. His scene with Rajinikanth, where he admires Deva’s legendary reputation before realizing they are destined to clash, is a masterclass in subtle tension. Though only on screen for a few minutes, Aamir Khan’s presence adds immense star power and reinforces Lokesh’s vision of Coolie as a truly pan-Indian spectacle.
Soubin Shahir: The Scene-Stealing Villain
If Rajinikanth carries the film on his shoulders, Soubin Shahir ensures the villain side doesn’t pale in comparison. As Dayal, Simon Xavier’s right-hand man, Soubin is chillingly unpredictable — his soft-spoken menace and cold stare hide a violent temperament that explodes without warning.
One of the standout moments is when Dayal taunts Deva after Rajasekhar’s death, turning grief into anger that propels the narrative. His brutal sequences in the port, where he dispatches rivals with eerie calmness, make him far more memorable than Nagarjuna’s Simon. Soubin thrives in this meaty role, and it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say he is the most impactful villain Rajinikanth has faced in recent times.
Shruti Haasan: The Emotional Anchor
Shruti Haasan delivers a career-best performance as Preethi, Rajasekhar’s daughter. Her character isn’t just a passive victim — she is determined, confrontational, and carries the pain of her father’s death throughout the film.
Her emotional outburst at her father’s funeral is one of the few genuinely heartfelt sequences in Coolie. Later, her bonding with Rajinikanth’s Deva provides some of the most tender moments in the film — particularly when he assures her that he will avenge Rajasekhar’s death as though it were his own. Shruti’s strong performance prevents the film from being an emotionless action fest and gives the audience someone to empathize with.
Rachita Ram: Small Role, Lasting Impact
Rachita Ram makes a stunning Tamil debut in Coolie, emerging as the film’s biggest surprise and delivering what many consider the role of her career. As Kalyani, she begins as a seemingly understated character but gradually evolves into one of the film’s most pivotal antagonists. The shocking reveal of her alliance with Soubin Shahir’s Dayal turns the narrative on its head, with Rachita bringing both charm and ruthless authority to the role. Her transformation from poised elegance to calculating menace is seamless, making her the true “surprise package” of the film.
What makes her performance truly remarkable is the way she stands her ground opposite Nagarjuna himself. In confrontational scenes with Simon, Rachita matches the King’s intensity with confidence and poise, turning Kalyani into a force to reckon with. With Coolie, Rachita Ram not only cements her versatility but also establishes herself as a powerful new presence in Tamil cinema, leaving audiences eager to see her in equally bold and impactful roles.
Anirudh Ravichander: The Beating Heart of Coolie
If Rajinikanth is the film’s body, then Anirudh is its heartbeat. His music is not just an accompaniment but a driving force that elevates every single mass moment.
The background score in particular is relentless in its energy. Rajini’s entry is staged with a thundering theme that instantly sets the theatre ablaze. The use of percussive beats during the Vizag port fight sequences gives them an operatic quality. During the flashback, Anirudh switches to a nostalgic, slightly retro orchestration that enhances the de-aged Rajini sequences beautifully.
The songs, though few, work brilliantly on screen. The opening track, which blends traditional coolie chants with contemporary EDM beats, is a roaring celebration of Rajinikanth’s legacy. A soulful number featuring Rajinikanth underscores the pain of losing his friend, offering a much-needed emotional breather amidst the action. The celebration track in the second half, placed during Rajini and Upendra’s joint fight, is pure adrenaline and almost feels like an anthem in terms of crowd response.
Simply put, Anirudh’s score is one of Coolie’s greatest strengths — his ability to heighten mass elevation scenes and also ground emotional moments is unmatched. Without his music, the film would have lost half its impact.
Technical Brilliance and Editing Issues
Visually, Coolie is stunning. Girish Gangadharan’s cinematography captures the grandeur of Deva Mansion and the grittiness of Vizag port with equal finesse. Anbariv’s action choreography deserves high praise — the set pieces are staged for both brutality and beauty, particularly when Rajini and Upendra fight together in a breathtaking sequence that fans will watch on repeat.
But where Coolie falters is in its length. At close to three hours, the narrative feels bloated, particularly in the first half where too much time is spent on establishing cameos and side arcs. With sharper editing under 150 minutes, Coolie could have been a racy, relentless entertainer rather than one that occasionally drags.
One of the most talked-about moments in Coolie is undoubtedly the Beedi sequence in the climax, a scene that instantly stamped itself as an iconic Rajinikanth mass moment. Lokesh Kanagaraj crafts it with deliberate buildup — Deva, battered yet unbroken, walks into the frame with his trademark swag, and instead of a gun or sword, he pulls out a beedi. What follows is vintage Thalaivar reinvented for a new generation. The slow flick of the matchstick, the smoldering inhale, and the fiery exhale are elevated to another level by Anirudh’s thunderous background score, which crescendos perfectly in sync with Rajinikanth’s screen presence.
The payoff is exhilarating. The scene is both symbolic and stylish — it marks Deva’s complete rejection of his dark past while also giving fans the kind of goosebump-inducing Rajini moment they came for. The roar inside theatres during this sequence is proof of its impact, with fans cheering as if witnessing history repeat itself in a brand-new avatar.
This climax isn’t just a throwaway gimmick; it’s Lokesh’s way of giving Rajinikanth a visual signature that can stand alongside his legendary cigarette flips and goggle twirls from earlier decades. In Coolie, the beedi becomes an emblem of Deva’s final act of defiance, and thanks to Rajinikanth’s effortless charisma, it has already etched itself into the Superstar’s hall of fame moments.
Verdict
Coolie stands tall as a grand theatrical experience that showcases Rajinikanth in a never-before-seen light while also redefining how a multi-starrer can be woven into a high-octane narrative. Lokesh Kanagaraj deserves immense credit for crafting a storyline that not only amplifies Thalaivar’s screen presence but also allows space for a galaxy of stars like Nagarjuna, Upendra, Aamir Khan, Soubin Shahir, and the surprise powerhouse Rachita Ram to shine. Unlike fan-service-heavy outings that rely solely on nostalgia, Lokesh gives Rajinikanth a character with depth, swagger, and unpredictability, ensuring that Coolie feels fresh and contemporary while still delivering those whistle-worthy Superstar moments.
Anirudh’s electrifying music and background score are nothing short of sensational, serving as the film’s heartbeat. His pulsating beats elevate every action block, while his themes underline the mass moments with thunderous energy. Together, Rajinikanth’s magnetic aura and Anirudh’s rousing score form the twin pillars that make Coolie a spectacle worth celebrating.
Despite its slightly stretched runtime and a missed opportunity for more emotional depth, Coolie succeeds as a stylish, ambitious entertainer that blends mass appeal with technical brilliance. It is a film that not only honors Rajinikanth’s legacy but also proves Lokesh Kanagaraj’s mastery in orchestrating a star-studded saga without losing balance. With this, Lokesh reaffirms his position as one of Indian cinema’s most daring storytellers, and Coolie becomes yet another feather in his cap — a film that will be remembered as both a Rajinikanth celebration and a landmark in Tamil cinema’s multi-starrer genre.
CINEMA SPICE MOVIE RATING: ★★★½☆ (3.5/5)
