The most anticipated film of Thalaivar Rajinikanth Coolie helmed by Lokesh Kanagaraj has finally released on big screens. Apart from Rajinikanth the film features Akkineni Nagarjuna Soubin Shahir Upendra Sathyaraj Shruti Haasan and Bollywood industry’s Mr. Perfectionist Aamir Khan. The plot is based on fierce and fearless porter who becomes a symbol of resistance against corrupt syndicate to avenge his friends death. What is the storyline of Coolie? Set against the backdrop of Chennais dockyards Coolie follows Deva (Rajinikanth) a former porter who becomes entangled in a web of corruption and betrayal after the mysterious death of his friend Rajasekar (Sathyaraj). Rajasekar who creates electric cremation chair which catches the attention of underworld don Simon (Nagarjuna). As Deva delves deeper the narrative becomes convoluted introducing multiple subplots and characters that dilute the central theme. The storys ambition sounds evident but its execution lacks coherence which lead to disjointed viewing experience. How were the performances? Rajinikanth delivers a charismatic performance especially in the flashback sequences that showcase his vintage style and energy. These moments are reminiscent of his earlier works and provide brief respite in an otherwise lackluster film which somehow manages to show his larger-than-life presence. Nagarjuna portraying the antagonist Simon brings a suave demeanor to his role. However his character lacks depth making his performance feel one-dimensional. Soubin Shahir as Dhayalan offers a nuanced performance adding layers to his character that stand out amidst the ensemble. Upendras brief appearance is impactful though his characters potential remains underexplored and clearly signifies that he chose this script just for Rajinikanth. Aamir Khans cameo as Dahaa is underwhelming. Despite the hype surrounding his appearance the role feels inconsequential and fails to leave a lasting impression. His presence looks strong but unfortunately due to lack of potential it feels like a forced cameo. Shruti Haasan as Preethi yet again fails to deliver despite having a strong character while Rachitha Ram and Kanna Ravi leave a mark with their short yet effective roles. Sathyaraj’s character of Rajasekar seems like a push just to introduce Deva’s menace and rage. How were the songs and BGM? Anirudh Ravichanders background score is a highlight infusing energy into key scenes and enhancing the films emotional beats. However the songs including “Chikithu Vibe” and Monica feel out of place and disrupt the narrative flow. On the other hand “I Am The Danger” “Mobsta” “Coolie Power House” and “Disco” perfectly delves with the thematic representation of characters. The use of vintage track “Vaa Vaa Pakkam Vaa” from Thanga Magan makes you feel the vibe which perfectly delves with Rajinikanth’s vintage flashback sequence. How were the technical aspects of Coolie? Girish Gangadharans cinematography captures the films gritty settings effectively but lacks the visual innovation seen in Kanagarajs previous works like Vikram or Kaithi. Philomin Rajs editing is inconsistent with certain sequences feeling prolonged and others abruptly cut. What disappointed us more was action choreography in Coolie directed by the acclaimed Anbariv duo disappoints with its lack of freshness and impact. Despite big names and scale the fight scenes feel repetitive over-stylized and emotionally flat. Instead of enhancing the story the action often drags making it one of the film’s weakest aspects. Meanwhile there is one sequence performed by Rachitha Ram that feels compelling and makes you remember sequence of Agent Tina from Vikram. Why Coolie is the weakest film of Lokesh Kanagaraj’s career? Coolie stands out as the weakest film in Lokesh Kanagaraj’s career primarily due to its lackluster storytelling and overambitious execution. Unlike his earlier films known for their gritty realism and tightly woven plots Coolie suffers from a disjointed narrative that fails to emotionally engage the audience. The film’s overloaded ensemble cast results in underdeveloped characters with even big names like Aamir Khan reduced to weak cameos. Lokesh’s signature style sharp direction grounded action and intense drama is noticeably absent replaced instead by excessive fan service and an overhyped money grabbing scheme. Overall Verdict Overall Coolie aspires to be mass entertainer but is hindered by a fragmented storyline and underdeveloped characters. The ensemble casts potential is largely untapped and the narratives lack of focus detracts from the overall experience. It misses mark on multiple fronts making it an unexpected misstep in Lokesh’s otherwise strong filmography. Rating- 1/5