Coolie Review: It’s Rajinikanth’s show all the way

There has been massive buzz and hype around Coolie. Read on to know why Rajinikanth's film deserves your attention.

Coolie Movie Review
Director: Lokesh Kanagaraj
Cast: Rajinikanth, Aamir Khan, Nagarjuna, Upendraa, Sathyaraj, Shruti Haasan
Rating: 3/5

Rajinikanth's films have managed to win over viewers across generations and languages. Reason? They offer an interesting blend of substance and style that only Thalaiva can pull off. His movies aren't only about the hard-hitting dialogues, but also gravity-defying stunts which we absolutely adore. Coolie deliver exactly all of this. It has Rajinikanth pulling off every bit with his larger-than-life charisma that makes you want to clap and whistle even before the scene kicks off. Much like his other films, watching Coolie was also an experience. For the unversed, Coolie marks filmmaker Lokesh Kanagaraj's first collaboration with Rajinikanth.

Coolie Review: What works for the film?

Coolie begins in classic Lokesh Kanagaraj style. It includes gritty vibes quick cuts, and the viewers are instantly made familiar with the underworld. Within seconds, a police informer puts out the basics of a smuggling racket. Next, new characters are introduced, and the viewers get a few clues to understand how the underworld operates. but it all feels a bit scattered, like it’s trying to be clever without really letting us in. The film's plot features Simon (Nagarjuna) as a luxury watch smuggler, Dayalan (Soubin Shahir) plays his right-hand man, a scientist Rajasekhar (Sathyaraj), his daughter Preethi (Shruti Haasan), and of course Deva (Rajinikanth). Deva gets pulled into the mess of smuggling and murder because he wants to save his daughter Preethi - a fact he gets to know later in the second half. It also features Aamir Khan who appears towards the end as a crime lord. Upendra has an extended cameo too.

Coolie Review: What doesn't work for the film?

Even though Coolie has several stars, its writing doesn’t really give them much room to shine. This remains the biggest flaw of Coolie. Shockingly, Deva's storyline too feels just all over the place much like Simon’s moves and Rajasekhar’s tech experiments.

Coolie Review: Final verdict

On the technical front, Coolie is a complete stunner. Girish Gangadharan’s cinematography is impeccable and Anirudh’s music keeps the energy alive. What will keep you invested in the film is Rajinikanth’s sheer charisma. It is incredible that even at 74, Rajinikanth leave an impact on fans his with onscreen presence. Even when he shares the screen space with other stars, our eyes are always on him. Every intense close-up of his eye leaves a lasting impact. Watch the film for Rajinikanth. He’s the heart and soul of the film.