On The Eve Of Coolie’s Release, Lokesh Kanagaraj Pens A Heartfelt Tribute To Rajinikanth
With less than 24 hours to go before Coolie storms into theatres worldwide, director Lokesh Kanagaraj has taken a moment to pause, reflect, and express his deepest gratitude to the man at the centre of it all, Superstar Rajinikanth.
In a heartfelt post on X, Lokesh poured out his emotions, calling Rajinikanth the very “heart” of Coolie.
“#Coolie will always be a special film in my journey, and the reason this film shaped up the way it did with everyone pouring their hearts and love into it is because of you, #Thalaivar @rajinikanth sir,” Lokesh wrote.
#Coolie will always be a special film in my journey, and the reason this film shaped up the way it did with everyone pouring their hearts and love into it is because of you, #Thalaivar @rajinikanth sir 🤗❤️
Will forever be grateful for this opportunity, and the conversations… pic.twitter.com/XNLbwGLLvf
— Lokesh Kanagaraj (@Dir_Lokesh) August 13, 2025
The filmmaker went on to recall not just the creative highs of working with Rajinikanth, but also the warmth of their off-screen conversations — moments he says he will “always cherish and never forget.”
He ended his tribute with a grand salute to Rajinikanth’s unmatched journey in cinema:
“From the bottom of my heart, thank you for continuously inspiring all of us and hearty congratulations on completing 50 glorious years of making us love you, learn from you, and grow with you! We love you #Thalaivaa.”
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This public note comes at a time when anticipation for Coolie is at fever pitch, with fans counting down the hours to witness Rajinikanth in what promises to be a gritty, high-voltage action spectacle.
Directed and written by Lokesh Kanagaraj and produced by Kalanithi Maran under Sun Pictures, Coolie is a Tamil-language action thriller headlined by Rajinikanth as Deva, a mysterious man who takes on a ruthless syndicate exploiting and abusing coolies in a coastal port town.
The film boasts a star-packed cast including Nagarjuna, Soubin Shahir, Upendra, Shruti Haasan, Sathyaraj, and Aamir Khan in a special role, with Pooja Hegde making a cameo appearance in the viral song “Monica.”
Originally conceived by Lokesh in 2015, the film went through years of speculation before becoming a reality. Announced in September 2023 as Thalaivar 171 and officially titled Coolie in April 2024, the project brought Rajinikanth and Lokesh together for the first time.
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The shoot spanned multiple locations, Chennai, Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Jaipur, and Bangkok — with large-scale action sequences, IMAX-certified camera work, and even digital de-ageing technology to recreate a younger Rajinikanth.
Rajinikanth sports a grey-shaded hairstyle reminiscent of his Kaala (2018) avatar, with Lokesh promising shades of the Superstar’s earlier anti-hero roles. The film is rooted in themes of rebellion, justice, and survival, set against a backdrop of gold smuggling.
Action choreography by Anbariv, cinematography by Girish Gangadharan, and a pulsating soundtrack by Anirudh Ravichander give Coolie the scale of a grand theatrical experience.
Anirudh’s soundtrack has already made waves with singles like “Chikitu,” “Monica,” and “Powerhouse.” The “Monica” hook step, performed by Pooja Hegde, exploded on social media, with fans and influencers recreating the dance in droves.
The film has generated unprecedented pre-release business, with bookings crossing records in North America and huge demand across India. Trade analysts are predicting an opening day gross potentially touching ₹150 crore worldwide.
Coolie releases tomorrow, August 14, 2025, in Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, and Kannada, clashing with the Hindi biggie War 2. Despite the clash, expectations remain sky-high, especially with the Independence Day holiday following immediately after.
