Talk about superstardom in India, and you could always hear one name, louder than the others though-Rajinikanth. And he returned with a boom in 2025 by his newest movie Coolie directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj. This was not another release of a movie, it was a celebration, an event and in many ways a tribute to the five beautiful decades of Rajini in movies.

Coolie is all about Rajinikanth as Deva who was a union leader, one who fought on behalf of coolies and the working class. The life pulls him again into the jaws of chaos on inquiring about the suspicious death of one of his close friends. The original quest of the main characters develops into a stormy confrontation with strong crime groups.

It is a story that seems to fit Rajinikanth: the Cinderella of the world, cool, intelligent and with an indefeasible amount of charisma. Will it have the Lokesh Kanagaraj touch of action-thriller it is known to do (Kaithi, Vikram), and of course, Rajini makes it look easy.

Rajinikanth isn’t alone in this ride. The cast is nothing short of a mini-festival:

•Nagarjuna Akkineni plays the main villain, Simon—a cold, calculated gangster who is a perfect foil to Rajini’s firebrand character.

•Shruti Haasan brings elegance and intensity in her supporting role.

• The ensemble is completed by a decent performance by Upendra, Sathyaraj, Rachita Ram, and Soubin Shahir.

•And, just as a cake on the icing, you get special cameos of Aamir Khan and Pooja Hegde. Yes yes you heard that right it is the style of Bollywood combined to Kollywood.

This casting alone made the film one of the most talked-about projects before release.

The hype why Coolie exists dates back to 2023 when it was announced as teaser as Thalaivar 171. Fans wondered about the title, plot and cast, months before it came out. At last, in April 2024, the producers disclosed the official name-Coolie.

The movie had a big canvas with the shooting taking place in Chennai, Hyderabad, Jaipur and Visakhapatnam besides being in Bangkok. By March 2025 the shoot was completed, and everyone was focussed on the month of August, come which the film can be expected to be released into the theatres.

One of the biggest assets of Coolie is its music. Anirudh Ravichander, who has become the go-to composer for big Tamil blockbusters, once again created magic.

The album features songs like “Chikitu”, “Powerhouse”, and the viral sensation “Monica.” The latter, with Pooja Hegde’s dazzling presence, turned into a dance trend on social media within days.

The grand audio launch on the 2nd of August 2025 at Chennai in the Nehru stadium had turned out to be a carnival.The Rajini fans, as usual, came with the drum, fireworks and endless energy in order to cheer up their Thalaivar.

Now, let’s talk about what happened once the film released.

The first half of Coolie had audiences hooked. Rajini’s entry scene, his witty one-liners, and Anirudh’s pulsating background score made theaters erupt with whistles and applause. Lokesh Kanagaraj’s direction was sharp, stylish, and gripping in these portions.

But, as many fans and critics pointed out, the second half slowed down. The narrative got a little predictable, and some even felt it lost steam compared to the strong beginning. Social media buzz had mixed reactions—while die-hard Rajini fans declared it a “festival film,” others joked that the movie felt a little “cartoonish” after interval.

And that’s the beauty and curse of Rajinikanth films: expectations are sky-high, so even a small slip gets magnified.

Despite mixed reviews, Coolie absolutely dominated the box office.

•Day 1: A jaw-dropping ₹151 crore worldwide collection—the highest ever opening for a Tamil film.

•Day 2 & 3: Momentum continued, and within three days, the film crossed ₹300 crore globally.

•Day 4: In India alone, it had earned nearly ₹170 crore.

By the end of its first week, Coolie was already the biggest Tamil hit of 2025 and among the top grossing Indian films of the year. Rajinikanth proved yet again that his box office pull is like no other.

or fans who missed catching it in theaters—or those who want to rewatch Rajini’s swag on loop—the movie is heading to Amazon Prime Video sometime in September 2025. The OTT debut is expected to give it a second life, just like Jailer did last year.

While people may debate whether Coolie was flawless or not, one thing is undeniable: it is a milestone film. This marked Rajinikanth’s 171st movie and came at a time when he completed 50 years in cinema.

Think about it—five decades of entertaining millions across generations. From black-and-white classics to today’s big-budget pan-Indian spectacles, Rajini has not just survived but stayed at the very top. Coolie is more than a film; it’s a statement that the superstar is still here, still ruling, still loved.

Step into any Rajini fan group or social media thread, and you’ll see the range of reactions:

•“Thalaivar’s entry gave me goosebumps. Worth the ticket just for that.”

•“Anirudh’s background score is fire. The music carried the movie.”

•“Second half could have been tighter, but Rajini’s aura made up for it.”

•“Monica song on repeat—Pooja Hegde slayed it.”

Love it or criticize it, one thing’s clear: nobody can ignore a Rajini film.

So, how do we sum up Coolie?

It is not ideal. The second part sinks and there are some repetitive elements in the story beats. However, once you see Rajinikanth burn the screen with his style, punch dialogues and that presence, you understand-it is not only the script. It is an experience.  Seeing Coolie in cinemas was like experiencing cultural event. Crowds cheered, waved and danced.

And in that vein, Coolie did what it set out to do, namely achieve what it claimed to be a mass entertainer that does justice to a living legend.

This is not the last in a journey of Rajinikanth and Coolie is yet another glittering chapter in his crown. The question is whether you liked it, or thought it could have been done better, stay assured of one thing, nobody can do mass cinema like Thalaivar.

FAQs: Rajinikanth & Coolie

Q1: Why is Rajinikanth called the ‘Superstar’ of Indian cinema?

• His charisma, style, and mass appeal turn every movie release—even Coolie in 2025—into a nationwide celebration. Rajini connects across generations and languages, making him a true phenomenon.

Q2: Why is Rajinikanth’s 50-year legacy still important?

• Even after 50 years and 170+ films, Rajini’s energy and humility keep him loved by all, with Coolie marking a golden milestone in Indian cinema.

Q3: How did fans react to Coolie?

• Fans celebrated in theaters and online, calling it a “festival film.” For millions, a Rajini release means much more than just a movie—it’s a cultural event.