YS Jaganకు అసెంబ్లీలో CM Chandrababu గౌరవం.. ఇకపై కూడా దక్కుతుందా? | OTR

Lokesh Kanagaraj, the man behind Kaithi, Master, Vikram, and Leo, joins forces with Superstar Rajinikanth for Coolie—an action thriller that celebrates Rajini’s 50 years in cinema. Featuring a multi-industry cast including Nagarjuna, Upendra, Soubin Shahir, and Aamir Khan (cameo), the film surprisingly stands outside the Lokesh Cinematic Universe (LCU).

Story

Deva (Rajinikanth), caretaker of a men’s mansion in Chennai, learns of the sudden death of his old friend Rajasekar (Sathyaraj). At the funeral, Rajasekar’s daughter Preethi (Shruti Haasan) accuses Deva of wrongdoing and sends him away. Soon, Deva discovers Rajasekar was murdered on the orders of Simon Xavier (Nagarjuna) and his associate Dayal (Soubin Shahir). Why was Rajasekar killed? What history does Deva share with Simon? The answers unfold in a tale of betrayal, revenge, and high-octane action.

Performances

Rajinikanth is magnetic—his style, dialogue delivery, and charisma are in full form. Nagarjuna is equally impressive as the suave yet ruthless Simon, clearly enjoying his antagonist role. Soubin Shahir is the surprise package, stealing scenes with a power-packed performance. Upendra makes an impact in limited time, while Rachita Ram delivers beyond expectations. Aamir Khan’s cameo, however, feels unnecessary and underwhelming.

Technical Aspects

Anirudh Ravichander’s background score boosts key sequences, especially the hostel and mansion action blocks, but occasionally leans on familiar motifs. Girish Gangadharan’s cinematography is polished but lacks the striking flair of Lokesh’s earlier films. Editing by Philomin Raj is inconsistent—tight in the first half, slack in the final act.

Positives

• Rajini–Nagarjuna face-off
• Soubin Shahir’s performance
• Two engaging twists
• Hostel & mansion action sequences
• Strong first half buildup

Negatives

• Slow start
• Weak, stretched climax
• Forced backstory & cameo

Verdict

Coolie isn’t the all-out mass fest some expected—it’s a story-driven thriller with flashes of Lokesh’s brilliance. A gripping first half, standout performances, and two superb action set pieces keep it engaging, but the dragged-out finale and unnecessary fan-service moments hold it back from greatness.