Audience Mistake - Not Mine - Lokesh about Coolie / Rajinikanth Still Overseas Darling

 

I do not make films to suit the audience. I am never said that Coolie is a sci-fi film or part of LCU, If they went with different expectations then I am not to be blamed.- This is  what Lokesh Kanagaraj Director of Coolie has to say about the film not fulfilling audience expectations.

Rajinikanth’s Coolie is in the final stage of its box office run. The film’s box office collections stand at 510 Cr gross worldwide for 20 days. It’s a pretty good total considering the film received unfavorable WOM and reviews.

Coolie Area-Wise Collections

Tamil Nadu: 148 Cr
AP/TG: 69 Cr
Kerala: 25 Cr
Karnataka: 42 Cr
North India: 48 Cr
All India Gross: 332 Cr
Overseas Gross: 178 Cr
Worldwide: 510 Cr

Coolie in the final stage of Box Office Run: To end as an average fare

The 20 Days Box Office Collections of Rajinikanth and Lokesh Kanagaraj’s Coolie are decent. This week, several new films are getting released in theaters, and this action drama is also not posting big numbers now. The film is likely to close around 520 Cr, with around 87% recovery, and settles at an average status at the box office and as the 4th biggest grosser of Kollywoo

Rajinikanth’s Coolie crossed another milestone at the box office. The film becomes the 10th film in South Indian Films to cross $20M+ in overseas gross. Superstar Rajinikanth has three films in the list, with Prabhas following him with two movies. Overall, Rajinikanth and Prabhas lead the list of South Indian films to cross $20M+ in overseas gross collection.

Here’s the list of South Indian films with $20M+ overseas gross collection:

• Baahubali 2
• 2 Point O
• RRR
• KGF 2
• PS-1
• Jailer
• Leo
• Kalki2898AD
• Pushpa2
• Coolie

As said above, at the age of 75, Superstar Rajinikanth still competes at the box office with 3 movies in the list, with Prabhas having 2 movies. 

Thalapathy Vijay has 1 movie with Leo, while Allu Arjun has Pushpa 2. Yash has one film with KGF 2. Ram Charan and NTR have RRR, while Vikram/Ravi Mohan/Karthi have one film with Ponniyin Selvan-1.

 

 

RAJINIKANTH PRO SLAMS TRADE BODY LEADER FOR COOLIE REMARKS

Finally, Cat has been belled, CAT -G Dhananjayan – Belled by Riaz the BOSS. Dhananjayan  is  a founder and the Treasurer of the Tamil Film Active Producers Association (TFAPA) and his role as a box office trade expert and his findings about falling collections of Coolie has been slammed by Riaz Ahmed PRO to Rajinikanth, through his V4U Media YouTube channel. Riaz has raised a valid point- If you are a trade expert or a media person be sso but if you are part of a body that represents film Producers, then you have no right to open mouth about another production company business. Choose which boat you want to ride is what Riaz says.

Double role or multi-tasking by Dhananjayan who is a film Producer- exhibitor- award winning author of books on cinema and a man with solutions to all problems faced by Kollywood had mazed many including me. For long and till today he has been the source of content to many You Tube channels that thrive on Kollywood content. The part of him as an important office bearer of the Active Producers body of Kollywood was actually something that I wondered as to how he was going about it. In my videos in Kodambakkam Guys I had pointed out that this gentleman had while taking defense of a Suriya’s flop film had mentioned that this flop’s opening was equal to Rajinikanth’s Petta’s life time collection. This was far from truth. I don’t want to digress from my main topic- Dhananjayan and Rajini.

While riding with Suriya, he was responsible for exaggerating facts of the films that he was doing. It backfired badly. He has two books on cinema and got a national award for it. Currently he is Head of Sony LIV Tamil content. Riaz has let lose a barrage of support from many film critics in You Tube. All seem to have been waiting for the man to bell this cat and what more than the publicist of Rajinikanth. Dhananjayan has decided that he will no more be the box office analyst and announced his withdrawal from this field adding that he was doing so on his own as he was misunderstood and not because of any fear. A YouTuber Cheyar Balu had listed out how in yesteryears Rajini dealt with his detractors. This was seen as a scare. Rajini has since turned a new leaf. Classic example was when theatres screening Baba was attacked by PMK workers. If he had just given the HUKUM – Tamil Nadu politics would have been different TODAY.

 

Rajinikanth Tamil Nadu market shrinks - Will Kalki Nag be a saviour or do a Lokesh ?

 

As Rajinikanth market share in Tamil Nadu is shrinking, will Nag Ashwin who gave a Hit Kalki that entered the Rs 1000 cr club as next Director recover Thalauvar market or be another over hyped Lokesh ? Read on:

Rajinikanth’s films, including the latest Coolie, underperform in Tamil Nadu. 

At 75 years of age, Rajini still has a substantial market in all languages. But when we see his recent films, compared to other areas, the movies are not doing well in Tamil Nadu.

Kabali, with poor WOM, managed to set very big numbers in all other areas, but in Tamil Nadu, the numbers were not that huge. During the Petta vs. Viswasam clash, the former outshined Viswasam in all areas.

But Ajith’s Viswasam takes a clear lead in TN. Jailer, which set new records everywhere for Kollywood, failed to beat Ponniyin Selvan 1 and did not cross the 200 Cr mark as well.

Now, Rajinikanth’s Coolie underperforms in Tamil Nadu. Yes, it had a weak/below average WOM, but comparing to other areas’ performance, it should have collected at least 170 Cr in TN.

But reaching 150 Cr itself looks like a tough task for the film. Till now, it collected 132 Cr gross in 11 days in TN. All films of Rajinikanth in recent years are doing 10-15% lower on expectations in the main market of Tamil Cinema.

#Coolie 11 Days Box Office Collection :- Tamil Nadu : ₹129.25 Cr Andhra & Nizam : ₹63.00 Cr Karnataka : ₹38.20 Cr Kerala : ₹24.10 Cr Rest of India : ₹40.00 Cr Overseas : ₹170.35 Cr / $19.47 Mn Total Worldwide Gross : ₹464.90 Cr

Strong industry buzz points to Nag Ashwin, known for Mahanati and Kalki 2898 AD. Sources claim Ashwin recently narrated a script to Rajinikanth, who reportedly approved the idea and asked him to develop it further. Fans are excited about the possibility of this collaboration, though reactions remain mixed. Rajinikanth’s Coolie received criticism online despite high expectations, while Ashwin’s Kalki 2898 AD, though successful at the box office, faced divided opinions. Some fans believe the partnership could create something special, while others are cautious. They argue that Rajinikanth’s collaboration with Lokesh Kanagaraj already turned into a disappointment with Coolie, and fear that Ashwin may also face risks with the superstar.

 

 

JOHN WICK Stunt Director with YASH / Rajini Beats Vijay -Where and How/ Anirudh Secret

 

Perry, who is famous for designing the breathtaking stunts in massive hits like Fast & Furious, John Wick, and Day Shift, is here to create the action sequences for the film TOXIC.  In a statement, Perry praised the Indian team, calling them “world-class.” He said, “That’s precisely why I chose to work with them. We’re tackling a major sequence right now, and I’m super stoked about taking this on… this team is meeting it head-on.”

This isn’t just another project for JJ Perry, who has worked in 39 countries over his 35-year career. He expressed his genuine admiration for Indian movies and the vision of Toxic‘s director, Geetu Mohandas. “I’m a fan of Indian cinema; it’s creative, artistic, and bold,” Perry stated. “Geetu has great vision, and everyone from cinematographer Rajeev Ravi to the production designer and art team has been fantastic.” Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups is an upcoming bilingual (Kannada-English) gangster film directed by Geetu Mohandas. It stars superstar Yash in the lead role and features a large ensemble cast. Jointly produced by Venkat K. Narayana and Yash under KVN Productions and Monster Mind Creations, Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-ups is a high-stakes, large-scale film that merges depth with dazzle. It is slated for a worldwide theatrical release on March 19, 2026. Jointly produced by Venkat K. Narayana and Yash under KVN Productions and Monster Mind Creations, Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-ups is a high-stakes, large-scale film that merges depth with dazzle. 

Finally Rajini fans can be happy. Thalaivar has beat Thalapathy at the box office 0 YES, at the Hindi box office. Read on : Even though there was no multiplex release for Leo due to a 4-week OTT window, the film did very well in Hindi belts and collected around 30 Cr net in India and emerged as the 2nd biggest grosser for Kollywood in Hindi belts after 2.0.

Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, Coolie clashed with War 2, the Bollywood biggie, but it was successful in beating Leo collections at the box office. By its second weekend, the film had collected around 32 Cr net in India and surpassed Kabali (28 Cr) and Leo (30 Cr). Now, this action drama is the second biggest grosser for Kollywood in North India. Overall, the film has collected around 475 Cr gross worldwide and  is racing towards the 500 Cr mark.

If you think Anirudh is pocketing the singer fees by singing in his own songs or in other music composer songs then you are wrong . He does it free. Read on : He has sung nearly 175 songs for other music directors, while also working on his own music. He has sung songs in Tamil as well as Telugu. Gaali Vaaluga, Hoyna, and Baitikochi Chuste are some of his most popular works in Telugu as a singer.

Anirudh has not charged even a single rupee for the songs he has sung for other music directors. On average, a leading singer charges about 10 lakhs per song, which means he could’ve made 1750 lakhs or 17.5 crores.

This just shows his love for music. He sings because he wants to be a part of that project, and not because it will fetch him money. This is a true sign of a rockstar and an artist.

Anirudh has a terrific lineup of films ahead, they include Thalapathy Vijay’s Beast, the multistarrer Vikram, and Kamal Haasan’s Indian 2. Anirudh will also be serving as music director for NTR30. Anirudh sings most of the songs, and it is receiving high criticism. The netizens question him on that, and they clearly state that some of his songs are more suitable for other singers than him. Recently Anirudh faced negative reactions for singing Vijay Deverakonda’s Kingdom’s song, Anna Antene, and now, for Madharaasi’s 2nd single, Vazhiyiraen.

Rockstar Anirudh Ravichander’s Hukum World Tour Grand Finale lit up MARG Swarnabhoomi, Kuvathur, ECR on 23rd August 2025, drawing a record-breaking crowd of 50,000+ fans. It set a new benchmark as one of the biggest and best-organized live music events Chennai has witnessed in recent times.

The Hukum Grand Finale was organized by Brand Avatar, delivering a world-class concert that will be remembered as a milestone in Chennai’s live music history.

Mahaavatar boost to Indian Animation / Rajini KING OF KARNATAKA / VIJAY Reel Breaks Insta record

 Chaluve Gowda Co-Founder: @hombalegroup Partner: @hombalefilms

Board of Governors: @rv.university
Board Member: Mandya University took a risk with Indian Animation and Indian VFX by making substantial investments and employing 200 VFX Software and Visual personnel and spending 1 1/2 years to create Indigenous extrusion of characters in MAHAVATAR NARASIMHA t is a great thing for India

Sure the Software is still Western owned (American and British) but the Studio is Indian, On day 30, within just 24 hours, ticket sales spiked dramatically.  

Rather than entrust animation to a Japanese or Korean company, Hombale has decided to do their own VFX work using Indian talent

That is definitely a step in the right direction

More Indian VFX and who knows maybe we can finally start making world class Software

There are 140 Crore Indians and only a combined 5.35 Crore tickets were sold in 2024

By comparison there are 140 Crore Chinese and 12.85 Crore tickets were sold in the first 6 months of 2025

So if India can manage to push another 5 Crore tickets, we could be seeing Budgets of 1000 Crore becoming easier to gross locally and more work for Indian Animation

Especially with all our Puranas, Panchatantra, Mahabharat and Mythologies

More than 130.3K tickets were booked on BookMyShow, a number usually associated with an opening weekend rather than the film’s fifth week.

The sudden spike in bookings shows that audiences are choosing films with substance, animated or otherwise. At this rate, the film could well cross new milestones at the box office.

With the Rs. 300 crore gross mark now within reach, Ashwin Kumar’s epic is in no hurry to arrive on OTT. Produced by Kleem Productions and presented by Hombale Films, the movie is further lifted by Sam CS’s soulful soundtrack, which continues to strike a chord with viewers.

Continuing his record-breaking spree, Rajinikanth now has three all-time highest-grossing Tamil movies in Karnataka. Thalaivar’s Jailer and 2 Point 0 occupy the first and third places, respectively, in the list of top three Tamil movies in Karnataka, while Coolie stands in the second spot. However, given the considerable drops in the daywise collection, Coolie may not surpass Jailer’s lifetime gross in the Kannada land.

A reel shared by Vijay on his Instagram yesterday is now breaking the internet and has clocked the highest number of likes (10.3 million) for an Instagram post by any South Indian actor. The video features Vijay taking a selfie with a sea of fans during Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam’s (TVK) second state-level conference in Madurai on August 21. The fact that Vijay’s post amassed over 10 million likes within a day, and that too with just 14 million Insta followers, speaks volumes of Vijay’s craze. Vijay is currently working on his highly anticipated last film, Jana Nayagan. The actor will bid adieu to acting and enter Tamil Nadu politics by contesting the state assembly elections in summer 2026.

 

 

Lokesh next Arun Direction and Kaithi 2 - Rajini- Kamal Distant One

 

We hear that that Lokesh will wrap Arun's film with Vasanth Ravi before starting production on his next directorial venture, Kaithi 2, starring Karthi. Kaithi 2, Only after that  is Lokesh next project with  Rajini- Kamal project, if everything falls in place . . Kaithi is delayed and not for the Rajini- Kamal project but Lokesh after negative feedback post Coolie is out, he feels that the expectations from him are higher and viewers are expecting a bigger one from the Kaithi sequel . Post Coolie, Lokesh has to deliver with Kaithi sequel.

LK07: Kaithi 2

The fifth installment of the LCU, after BENZ. The film is co-produced by KVN Productions and and Dream Warrior Pictures.

The film revolves around the ego clash between Dilli (Karthi) and Rolex (Suriya), which is narrated in a non-linear screenplay. Kamal Haasan also plays a role in the film, with Vijay playing a cameo. This film is the one that begins the present plot of the universe.

Shoot begins from December  2025, and will be shot on a 200–250 crore budget. Will continue until the end of the year. They will be taking loads of time with post-production and fine tuning, so the film will only be releasing late 2027.

As elections are fast approaching, Red Giant would not commit any huge investment till May next year. RKFI of Kamal is all set to go ahead with Anbu Arivu directorial. Despite bad word of mouth, Coolie collecting so much shows his good will, Rajini post Coolie has shown as a weak draw in Tamil Nadu. Indian 2 figures does not help Kamal either. Coolie has shown that Rajini’s draw in Tamil Nadu is not big as Vijay.

Primarily, Rajini- Kamal film has to collect from Tamil Nadu and after paying both heroes the market price and production costs, recovery at box office is near impossible task. Only if both heroes join as partners, can the Rajini- Kamal film take off. The project can take off when Jailer 2 and Anbu Arivu projects are blockbusters and Kaithi 2 brings back Lokesh.

 

VELS Film International, one of the leading production houses in the Tamil film industry, has produced many successful films and is currently producing the big budget films “D54” starring actor Dhanush, “D54” directed by war veteran Vignesh Raja and “Mookuthi Amman 2” directed by director Sundar C and starring Nayanthara . Following this, this new film starring Ashok Selvan is being jointly produced by producer Yuvaraj Ganesan of Million Dollar Studios & producer Isari K Ganesh of VELS Film International.

Actor Ashok Selvan, who has been playing different roles in every film, will be playing a different role in this film as well. Actress Nimisha Sajayan will be playing his opposite number.

The highly anticipated film “Happy Endings, Once More” produced by Million Dollar Studios has reached its final stages. The shooting of this new film is scheduled to begin today in Chennai and be completed in a single phase.

A commercial film that will appeal to all audiences, the film is directed by debutant director Manikandan Anandan . Music composer Thibu Ninan Thomas is composing the music. Pushpa Raj Santhosh is handling the cinematography. Bharath Vikraman is handling the editing.

Mithun with Rajini in Jailer 2 / NTR changed WAR 2 END/ Mammootty IS BACK

 The post from Mohanlal comes in the wake of celebratory updates from the film fraternity, confirming that Mammootty has made a full recovery, ending months of speculation about his well-being. Fans immediately embraced Mohanlal’s gesture, flooding the comments with messages of love and relief. Many called it a perfect symbol of the brotherhood between Malayalam cinema’s two towering figures. Mohanlal and Mammootty have been friends and contemporaries for over four decades, and their bond continues to be cherished just as much as their films.

Malayalam cinema fans were overjoyed on Tuesday as social media filled with celebratory posts confirming that veteran actor Mammootty has regained full health. Close friend and producer Anto Joseph was among the first to express his gratitude, writing, “The prayers of countless people across the world have been answered. Thank you, God, thank you, thank you.” While he did not directly mention Mammootty, the post has widely been understood as referring to the actor, given the context and Anto’s close association with him.

Soon after, industry insider Anura Mathai shared his excitement, writing, “The wait will be over soon! With the blessings of the Almighty, our Mammukka is back. We all waited with love, prayers, and hope — and today our hearts are full. Love you ikka.” Actor Maala Parvathi also joined in with a heartfelt note: “There is no better news than this. Mammukka has regained full health. Grateful to the doctors who treated him, to everyone who cared for him, and to the hospital. Love. Yessss… The King is back!”

Finally, George Sebastian, long-time associate of Mammootty, shared an especially emotional message: “With eyes brimming with joy, I stand before you with folded hands. To all who prayed, who stood by me, who comforted me when it seemed nothing would happen -- to all my dear ones, I offer my heartfelt thanks!” The heartfelt tone made the post feel almost like Mammootty’s own words, further moving fans. Adding to the chorus of relief, veteran filmmaker Siby Malayil, Puzhu director Ratheena PT, producer C V Sarathi and others also shared affectionate messages on social media.

According to an India Today report, Mithun has been roped in for a full-fledged role, integral to the storyline of Jailer 2. He is said to join Rajinikanth for shoot this week itself.

For the unversed, Rajinikanth has made special appearances in two Mithun movies in the past - Bhrastachar in 1989 and Bhagya Devta in 1997. The sequel, Jailer 2, is currently being shot in Chennai and other parts of India. It is being positioned as a bigger and bolder follow-up to the first installment that won hearts across the globe. Mithun, on the other hand, is awaiting the release of The Bengal Files.

Putting an end to recent speculation, young director Venky Atluri has denied reports that Bollywood star Anil Kapoor is playing a key role in his upcoming big-ticket Telugu film starring Tamil superstar Suriya. “We haven’t even approached Anil Kapoor. I haven’t met him or even spoken to him over the phone. We don't know how these rumours cropped up, hence these reports are false and baseless,” clarified Venky Atluri.

NTR Jr made Aditya Chopra change the climax to please his fans says journalist Subhash k Jha. Despite this War 2 is Telugu is trailing behinf Coolie Telugu in Two Telugu States. According to a report by journalist Subhash K Jha in Deccan Chronicle, NTR character was to die in the climax but he had it changed to please his fans.

Coolie Falls Below Leo / Nagarjuna faces backlash

 Rajinikanth and NTR Jr missed creating box office history and Thalapathy Vijay is still the King of Kollywood Box Office. Cooolie Directed by Lokesh surpassed two out of three films from his own LCU (Lokesh Cinematic Universe). His film Kaithi collected Rs 6.4 cr on its opening day, while the Kamal Haasan-starrer Vikram minted Rs 37.5 crore on its first day. The only film that Coolie couldn’t surpass was Leo, starring Vijay, Trisha Krishnan, Sanjay Dutt, and Arjun Sarja. The 2023 film made an impressive Rs 76.2 crore on its first day and went on to make Rs 341 crore. Even though Coolie couldn’t beat Leo’s opening, it did leave behind several of Rajinikanth’s previous films. Coolie beat TJ Gnanavel’s Vettaiyan (Rs 31.5 cr), Nelson Dilipkumar’s Jailer (Rs 48.35 cr), Karthik Subbaraj’s Petta (Rs 14 cr), and S Shankar’s 2.0 (Rs 23 cr)

In Telugu states the film has collected more than 20 Cr gross and become the 1st ever film to do this from Kollywood. Pan-Indian star Prabhas has a rare record of a hat trick of 100 Cr opening grossers with Adipurush,  Salaar, and Kalki 2898 AD. Not even SRK could achieve it.  NTR’s last 2 films, RRR and Devara, opened with more than 100 Cr, and everyone expected that the War sequel will easily score an opening of 100 Cr and NTR will join this club.

But War 2 fails to open with 100 Cr+, and with that, NTR fails to match Prabhas’s record.

 

Nagarjuna villain act in Coolie has not gone down well with his core audience, They feel that he should stop accepting character roles and instead wait for right scripts and stage a comenack and point out Venkatesh as an example. Nag played a crucial character in Kuberaa, and it resulted in a mixed response from fans, as they liked his role in the 1st half, as there was a good balance, but in the 2nd half, the character was sidelined, and the film completely moved on to Dhanush’s side. After watching  Coolie , even the neutral audiences are disappointed, and fans are furious with Nagarjuna, as they are angry that he could do such a regular villain character for his stature.

Coolie v/s WAR 2 Telugu States Box Office Battle UPDATE

 Telugu movie fans see Coolie as a film in which Nagarjuna for first time in his career is playing a full fledged role and WAR 2 is NTR Jr Bollywood Debut and that too with negative shades. How will these heroes perform ? .NTR Jr intervention has not helped WAR 2 I Telugu States advance bookings. Bought for Rs 90 crores, Coolie takes a big lead over the War sequel, and the latter did not even give minimal competition to the former. Everyone expected that in Telugu states, the scenario would be reversed, but Coolie outperforms War 2 in Telugu states too, in advance bookings. Rajinikanth’s Coolie shatters Game Changer’s record and becomes the biggest opener of 2025. The film’s opening-day pre-sales worldwide are 90 Cr, and it is set to cross the 100 Cr mark before the shows begin. Rajinikanth and Lokesh Kanagaraj’s Coolie’s ticket hike in Andhra Pradesh has been granted. The film received an Rs 75 hike in single screens (incl GST) and an Rs 100 hike in multiplex screens (incl GST) for 10 days. The film also got the permission of the 5 AM show, along with War 2, much to the happiness of fans. Rajinikanth-Lokesh Kanagaraj’s Coolie and Hrithik Roshan and NTR’s War 2 ticket hikes’ request has been rejected by the Telangana government.

At time of writing WAR 2 in Telugu States is fast catching up. n the Telugu states, where cinema is second only to cricket in popularity, bookings for War 2 and Coolie are strong. As per early trends, Coolie initially sold more tickets than War 2. However, this morning, the scenario changed – War 2 is now leading in hourly ticket sales. n the last hour, Coolie registered 2.93K tickets on BookMyShow, while War 2 sold 3.64K tickets in the same period. If this trend continues until the evening, War 2 could surpass Coolie and give tough competition to the Rajinikanth starrer.

Either way, both films are set to post massive Day 1 collections in the Telugu states, that’s a certainty. Ultimately, the content will decide which film stands tall.As we reported that WAR 2 advance booking in Hindi belt is below expectation as it has touched Rs 30 crore and was expected to be in Rs 70 cr. But Coolie the underdog in Hindi belt has got Rs 7 crore. Rajinikanth and Lokesh Kanagaraj’s Coolie’s total overseas advance bookings have crossed the 2 million mark for the opening day, and the film is expected to break Leo’s opening (8 million) and to set a new benchmark for Kollywood. Despite the recent pickup, the overall advance numbers for WAR 2 Hindi are still below the blockbuster levels many had predicted. In a surprising turn, the final advance sales for War 2 are tracking to be lower than its 2019 predecessor, War—a scenario few in the trade could have imagined. Consequently, the opening day forecast has been adjusted.

The best thing for the film  Coolie is that, along with the Tamil version, the Telugu version is also contributing massively to the record pre-sales overseas.

 

Lokah - Kalyani as Superwoman for ONAM / Coolie set to Break Pushpa 2

 Kalyani and Naslen in a Youth Vibe! "Lokah – Chapter One: Chandra" in Theatres for Onam

The seventh production from Dulquer Salmaan's Wayfarer Films, "Lokah – Chapter One: Chandra", will arrive in theatres as an Onam release. The makers have now unveiled the film's latest poster. The project is significant for being the first in Indian cinema to introduce a lady superhero. "Lokah" will reach audiences worldwide through Dulquer's Wayfarer Films.

Kalyani Priyadarshan and Naslen play the lead roles in this superhero entertainer, written and directed by Dominic Arun. Mounted on a mega budget, "Chandra" is the first instalment in a superhero cinematic universe titled "Lokah". Kalyani Priyadarshan essays the role of a superhero in the film. Following the release of the teaser, the project has generated tremendous hype. Cinephiles are eagerly anticipating its theatrical release.

The first look poster was unveiled earlier. Both the teaser and the initial poster hinted at a storyline and setting never before seen by Malayalam audiences. The film also stars Chandhu Salim Kumar, Arun Kurian and Shanthy Balachandran in pivotal roles. As the opening chapter of a multi-part cinematic universe, "Lokah – Chapter One: Chandra" carries massive expectations.

Cinematography: Nimish Ravi, Music: Jakes Bejoy, Editor: Chaman Chacko,Executive Producers: Jom Varghese, Bibin Perumbally, Additional Screenplay: Shanthy Balachandran, Production Designer: Banglan, Art Director: Jithu Sebastian, Make-up: Ronex Xavier, Costume Designers: Melvy J, Archana Rao, Stills: Rohith K Suresh, Amal K Sadar, Action Choreographer: Yannick Ben, Production Controllers: Rini Divakar, Vinosh Kaimal, Chief Associate:

 Sujith Suresh , Pro : Yuvraaj

 Coolie is chasing a never-before South Cinema record. 

Till now, no film has collected a double-digit gross in all 5 southern states: Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala. Rajinikanth’s Coolie now has a chance of chasing this never-before South Cinema record. 

The film starting with a double-digit opening in Tamil Nadu is obvious, and in Kerala, the advance sales have already crossed the 5 Cr mark, with high chances for a 10 Cr+ start. Karnataka advances have crossed the 4 Cr mark, with full-fledged bookings yet to open.

So, a double-digit opening for the film in Karnataka is also certain, and Coolie has a higher chance of opening with a double-digit gross opening in Telugu states as well.

For any film, this chance is very rare, but Rajinikanth and Lokesh Kanagaraj’s Coolie has a high chance of achieving this. Even Allu Arjun’s Pushpa 2 has failed to achieve this, as the film opened in Kerala with a single-digit number.

COOLIE RECENSOR ; DETAILS / WAR 2 REVIEW/ COMPARISON WITH COOLIE

 

Coolie was censored a while ago with an A, but as the post-production is underway, it has been re-censored with some exciting things.

• Thalaivar will have a special “50 Years of Rajni” title card, which will be an upgraded version of his classic one- with Lokesh’s red chip touch.
• Muted the word “Banchoth”, and brand names of the liqueur used in the film.
• Permissions obtained to use songs from other films, in this film with the granted NOC.
• Anirudh has added several rap songs to different parts of the film, such as introductions, and fight scenes.

“Added the song, You’ve Got That Look, in the already certified visuals of a lady killing others and remembering her past.”

Looks like we are going to get another Agent Tina sort of moment in the film, but with someone else. Intriguing.

An additional 25 seconds have been added to the film from the original censored version, and new theme tracks have been added to crucial parts of the film.

Music work is done for the film.

It has been given a U/A in most of the parts of the world except India, where it’s an A.

• War 2 is alright. It won’t sweep you off your feet, nor is it too difficult to sit through.
• The action set pieces are well-staged and executed. The VFX, though vastly improved, might still bother elitist nit-pickers (whisper: Coolie fans).
• The songs are decent, and the dance sequence featuring Hrithik and NTR is a treat to watch.
• Alia Bhatt appears in an extended cameo as Agent Alpha. Yes, SRK makes an appearance as Pathaan in a solid cameo.
• The movie is not boring by any standards—it keeps you hooked with its well-established action sequences.
• The Hrithik-Kiara love track is the only weak link; it just stretches the runtime unnecessarily.
• NTR absolutely steals the show in the confrontation episodes with Hrithik. They’ve cleverly built NTR’s rage around an emotional issue.
• Hrithik looks really good and plays Kabir with ease. His entrance involves a katana fight with "Wolf."
• NTR's first fight is what we saw in the trailer. His six-pack is revealed in the same scene.
• There’s an underlying layer of suspense and thrill throughout the movie.
• Ayan did a decent job. He executed the action set pieces well with decent VFX. However, he faltered with the emotional core—which is ironically his strength. He succeeds in patches. He gets NTR’s emotional arc right, but Hrithik’s emotional conflict isn’t convincingly portrayed.
• Music and BGM are strictly adequate. They should’ve gone for someone from the South.
• Comparatively, the second half is better than the first—especially if you're into action.

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Coolie vs War 2 — Quick Comparison

• Better Story: Coolie
• Screenplay: First Half – Coolie Second Half – War 2
• Action: War 2
• Music: Coolie
• Fan Moments: Equal
• Direction: Coolie
• Acting: Equal

With these two dream-teams competing for theater screens in India despite their regional differences, it has come to notice that Yash Raj Films has reserved all of the 30+ IMAX screens in the country for their movie War 2. This includes the one IMAX screen in Coimbatore, and the two in Chennai, Tamil Nadu which is supposed to be the home turf for Superstar Rajinikanth and Coolie. 

 

It is worth mentioning here that as of July 2025, there are 84 IMAX-labelled theater venues across India. However only 30+ are reflected in IMAX Corporation's official digital screen count, focusing on screens they directly operate or license. It remains to be seen if Sun Pictures manage to get IMAX screens for Coolie in India. 

Aamir Khan enters Coolie v/s War 2 in North / Mammootty film on October 9

 Coolie Hindi is getting a raw deal in North markets as YRF the Producer of War 2 are using the clout and taken all premium slots in theatres. Sun Pictures has flooded Mumbai Metro with posters but the fact that they are a Madhrasi company and with a Madhrasi hero is playing out big . Aamir has reportedly called PVR-Inox boss Ajay Bijli directly, aggressively requesting premium showcasing for Coolie across the country, and has even pushed the multiplex chain to do a marketing tie-up with the Rajinikanth starrer in North India. The call has left the PVR-Inox team stunned. “Aamir has no financial stake in Coolie. This wasn’t expected,” said a source close to the matter to Bollywood Hungama.

Industry insiders believe this is less about friendship and more about business. War 2, starring Hrithik Roshan, NTR Jr., and Kiara Advani, and backed by Aditya Chopra’s YRF, is being positioned as the next mega franchise event. Caught in the middle is PVR-Inox, now walking a tightrope between two giants: YRF and Sun Pictures. The phone call from Aamir, insiders say, has caused nervous murmurs within the exhibition chain, given his long-standing relationship with Ajay Bijli and a history of last-minute interventions reported Bollywood Hungama

What should have been a straightforward release has now turned into a battleground of egos, leverage, and legacy. And as always in Bollywood, the real show begins off-screen. Interestingly, both Aamir Khan and NTR Jr. are doing a film on DadaSaheb, and the off-screen battle makes things even more intense.

In a statement released to the media, the spokesperson for Aamir Khan Productions set the record straight. “Neither Aamir Khan, nor anyone from his team is involved in the distribution of Coolie. Mr Khan has not made any calls to any exhibitor or distributor,” the statement read.

If rumours doing the rounds in the industry are to be believed, director Jithin K Jose’s much-awaited film Kalamkaval, featuring Malayalam superstar Mammootty and Vinayakan in the lead, is likely to release on October 9 this year. Sources in the industry claim that Dulquer Salmaan's Wayfarer .. Films, which is distributing the film, has informed theatre  . Mammootty plays a character with shades of grey in it. ..This is will be the first film to release after Mammootty went for medical treatment.