Coolie

Coolie is an upcoming Indian Tamil-language action thriller directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj and produced by Kalanithi Maran under the Sun Pictures banner. The film stars Rajinikanth in the lead role as Deva, a mysterious man who takes a bold stand against a ruthless criminal syndicate exploiting and abusing coolies in a coastal port town. Set against a backdrop of corruption, labor injustice, and smuggling, the story unfolds as a deeply personal vendetta—shaped by the protagonist’s traumatic past and relentless pursuit of justice. His fight, driven by vengeance and redemption, becomes a larger-than-life rebellion against systemic oppression.

Joining Rajinikanth is a powerhouse ensemble cast including Aamir Khan as Dahaa, Nagarjuna Akkineni as the formidable antagonist Simon, Upendra as Kaleesha, Soubin Shahir as Dayal, Shruti Haasan as Preethi Rajasekar, and Sathyaraj as Rajasekar. The supporting cast features Rachita Ram, Reba Monica John, Kaali Venkat, Junior MGR, Charle, Monisha Blessy, Kanna Ravi, and Rishikanth, with a special appearance by Pooja Hegde in the viral hit song “Monica.” The screenplay is co-written by Lokesh Kanagaraj and Chandhru Anbazhagan.

Coolie is noted for being a standalone film outside Lokesh’s usual cinematic universe, with a strong emphasis on gold smuggling and underworld syndicates. The film marks Rajinikanth’s 171st feature and reunites him with Sun Pictures for the fifth time. It also sees Lokesh Kanagaraj continuing his collaboration with composer Anirudh Ravichander, editor Philomin Raj, and cinematographer Girish Gangadharan. The film is visually ambitious, shot using IMAX-certified cameras and employing digital de-aging technology for flashback sequences involving a younger Rajinikanth.

Production spanned several major locations including Chennai, Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Jaipur, and Bangkok, wrapping up in March 2025. The soundtrack has already made waves with hit singles like “Chikitu”, “Monica”, and “Powerhouse”. Marketing for the film has been extensive, featuring viral dance challenges, international promotions, and large-scale brand tie-ins, including a historic packaging collaboration with Amazon India.

Coolie is set for a global theatrical release on 14 August 2025, just ahead of India’s Independence Day, and will be available in standard, D-Box, and 4DX formats, with dubbed versions in Telugu, Hindi, and Kannada. Despite controversy over its IMAX release and a copyright dispute involving a teaser song, the film remains one of the most anticipated releases of the year. Advance bookings have already broken records in North America, and box office analysts predict a massive opening worldwide. The film received an A certificate in India, marking Rajinikanth’s first such rating in decades and Lokesh’s first as well.

With high-octane action, emotional depth, political subtext, and larger-than-life performances, Coolie promises to be a landmark entry in Indian cinema—both as a cinematic spectacle and a social statement.