Lokesh Kanagaraj’s Coolie Creates Box Office Storm With Rajinikanth In Lead

Tamil cinema witnessed another big milestone with the release of Coolie, directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj. The film, starring superstar Rajinikanth, was released worldwide on 14 August 2025. It has quickly turned into one of the biggest openers in Indian cinema. With a massive star cast, record-breaking earnings, and high expectations, Coolie has become the center of attention in the film industry.Film Announcement and Making

The movie was first announced in September 2023 under the working title Thalaivar 171. Fans waited eagerly as updates slowly arrived. In April 2024, the official title Coolie was revealed. Lokesh Kanagaraj, who is already popular for his films Vikram and Leo, confirmed that Coolie would not be part of his Lokesh Cinematic Universe (LCU). Instead, it was made as a standalone film, giving Rajinikanth a full-fledged action role.

Filming began in July 2024 in Chennai. The production later moved to Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Jaipur, and even Bangkok for major action sequences. The movie was produced by Sun Pictures under Kalanithi Maran. By March 2025, the entire shoot was completed, and post-production work started soon after.Cast and Crew

The film brought together a star-studded lineup. Rajinikanth plays the central role. He is joined by actors like Nagarjuna Akkineni, Upendra, Shruti Haasan, Sathyaraj, Rachita Ram, and Soubin Shahir. Bollywood star Aamir Khan and actress Pooja Hegde also appear in special roles.

The technical side of the movie is equally strong. Music is composed by Anirudh Ravichander, who has worked with both Rajinikanth and Lokesh in the past. Girish Gangadharan handled the cinematography, and Philomin Raj managed editing. Their combined work has given the movie a stylish and energetic feel.Music and Popularity

The soundtrack of Coolie has already become a hit. Songs like Chikitu and Powerhouse gained huge popularity, but it was the single Monica that created a wave on social media. Actress Pooja Hegde’s dance in the track went viral, adding more hype to the film before its release.Box Office Records

Coolie opened to an explosive response. On its first day, it collected nearly ₹65 crore in India and about ₹151 crore worldwide. This made it the biggest opening for a Tamil film. Within five days, the film crossed ₹200 crore in India and nearly ₹400 crore worldwide.

However, by the fifth day, collections dropped to around ₹12 crore, showing a fall of nearly 66%. Still, industry experts say the numbers are excellent and prove Rajinikanth’s unbeatable star power. Comparisons were also made with Lokesh’s earlier movie Leo, which had earned slightly more in its first weekend.Audience and Critic Response

Fans celebrated the release with traditional enthusiasm. Outside theaters, people performed milk abhishekam on Rajinikanth’s posters, played drums, and danced in groups. Inside, the film delivered exactly what Rajinikanth fans expected – high-voltage action, style, and mass appeal.

Critics, however, had mixed opinions. Many praised the visuals, Anirudh’s music, and Rajinikanth’s performance. Nagarjuna’s villain role also received attention, with some reports suggesting it was inspired by Hollywood’s Joker. On the other hand, reviewers felt the second half of the film was weaker and the screenplay could have been tighter.Challenges and Piracy

Like many big releases, Coolie also faced piracy issues. Within hours of release, illegal copies began circulating online. Industry members expressed concern that such leaks could affect box office performance. Despite this, the movie continued to draw large crowds in theaters.Digital Release

Amazon Prime Video has secured the digital streaming rights. Reports suggest the movie will premiere on the platform by mid-September 2025, about eight weeks after the theatrical release. This will allow a wider global audience to watch the film.