Director: Lokesh Kanagaraj
Cast: Rajinikanth, Nagarjuna Akkineni, Soubin Shahir, Aamir Khan, Shruti Haasan, Upendra Rao,
Sathyaraj, Reba Monica John
Genre: Action/ Thriller
Rating: 6.5/10
Ace director Lokesh Kanagaraj is hoping to continue his hot streak at the Indian box office with Coolie, his sixth directorial feature. And to ensure its success, Lokesh has assembled some of the most impressive casts from across the country. And the icing on the cake? Superstar Rajinikanth, a stalwart of Indian cinema who is celebrating 50 years in the industry.
Has Lokesh’s strategy worked out? Is Coolie part of the eponymous LCU (Lokesh cinematic universe)?
Coolie is a movie that is saved by its performances and let down by its overstuffed screenplay. The movie starts straightforward; it’s a story of a man hell-bent on revenge. But for some reason, as time goes on, the plot gets more convoluted. There are unnecessary ‘scientific breakthroughs’, long lost truths being unearthed, and families reunited ... all of which feels unnecessary.
You’d think that a nearly three-hour movie with a cluttered screenplay would lead to boredom. But let me tell you – the talent behind the camera and in front of it refuses to let you feel bored. The ensemble cast feels like they’re actively trying to outshine each other in the best way possible.
Nagarjuna plays against trope and revels in his role as the main antagonist. And the ever-dependable Soubin Shahir does exactly what’s expected of him – gives a solid performance that’s beyond reproach.
Even Shruti Haasan, who has often been criticised in the past for her wooden delivery, shows off one of her most nuanced portrayals in this movie.
Cameos by Upendra and Aamir Khan are fun additions that add excitement and twists to the screenplay, just when it starts to feel a little bogged down.
But as you might’ve guessed, the star of the show will always be Rajinikanth. The man’s screen presence is unrivalled in Indian cinema and that’s probably why he is affectionately referred to as ‘Thalaivar’ within the Tamil industry.
Although Lokesh might’ve fumbled a bit with the screenplay, his prowess as a director has never come into question. He has woven engaging visuals, thrilling fight sequences, and deep emotional scenes flawlessly together to create another blockbuster.
The music composed by Anirudh Ravichander has its ups and downs. As always, the character introduction sequences, where filmmakers want their audiences to get hyped, are immensely helped out by his masterful themes. But when the character intros stop, and the story progresses, the music doesn’t really affect you in any way.
Special shout-outs need to be given to the CGI and VFX teams behind Coolie. There was a surprising amount of realism and care given to the special effects, especially the de-aging scenes.
All in all, Coolie is an enjoyable weekend flick.
Verdict: A must-see for ‘Thalaivar’ fans and a fun weekend at the movies for casual fans too.
Deviprasad Nair
&uuid=(email))