COOLIE – MOVIE REVIEW

COOLIE is an action thriller film directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj and produced by Kalanithi Maran under Sun Pictures.

Welcome to Lokesh’s world — not the overhyped LCU fanfare, but the signature Lokesh space where certain “trademarks” are non-negotiable. This time though, there’s a small upgrade — the writing holds better, and the twists manage to keep you hooked. Ironically, what works against the film is the very consistency of its pace. The screenplay is content to stay in cruise mode, with almost no high-voltage peaks. And here’s the bigger let-down — the missing dose of entertainment. No crackling humour, no playful action beats, none of that tongue-in-cheek masala we expect from a Rajinikanth outing. The film holds one steady emotional note, start to finish, without anyone really shifting gears. The first half? Passable. The second half? That’s where things get mildly interesting. The cameos scream “inspired by Nelson’s Jailer,” but sadly they lack the same punch or infectious fun. Lokesh has clearly invested in the script but still can’t resist falling back on his comfort-formula screenplay. And the climax? Ordinary.

Rajinikanth delivers exactly what you expect from him — solid presence, but little room to flex across different emotions. Nagarjuna nails the stylish villain act. Shoubin is impressive, Upendra is tidy, and Aamir sneaks in some laughs. Shruti Haasan gets a meatier role than usual and handles it well. Sathyaraj’s brief appearance is fine.

On the technical side — Girish Gangadharan’s cinematography is a visual treat. Anirudh, as always, is the beating heart of such masala spectacles. Dialogues click, Philomin Raj’s editing is crisp, and the direction stays clean, if not adventurous.

COOLIE, despite all the noise, doesn’t quite pack the punch it promised — but it’s still a decent ride if you keep your expectations parked outside the auditorium.

COOLIE – COOL !!

2.5/5

B.U.Shreesha