Coolie

About the film

Coolie is a 2025 Indian Tamil-language action thriller film written and directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj and produced by Kalanithi Maran under Sun Pictures. The film features an ensemble cast including Rajinikanth, Nagarjuna Akkineni, Soubin Shahir, Upendra, Shruti Haasan, Sathyaraj, Rachita Ram with Aamir Khan and Pooja Hegde in special appearances. In the film, a former coolie union leader investigates the death of his friend which leads him to a dangerous crime syndicate.

The film was officially announced in September 2023 under the tentative title Thalaivar 171 as it is Rajinikanth's 171st film as the lead actor. The official title was announced in April 2024. Principal photography took place between July 2024 and March 2025, in locations including Chennai, Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Jaipur and Bangkok. The film has music composed by Anirudh Ravichander, cinematography by Girish Gangadharan and editing by Philomin Raj. Produced on a budget of 350-400 crore, it is one of the most expensive Indian films ever made

Plot

At the Visakhapatnam harbour, Simon runs an operation trafficking gold and luxury watches under his logistics company "Kingpin Logistics" with his lieutenant Dayalan "Dayal". Simon's son, Arjun, had rejected his father's criminal business and instead works as a customs officer. Palanisamy, an undercover police officer posing as a coolie, is killed by Dayal, who then offers a ₹2 crore (US$210,000) reward for exposing another undercover officer in the gang.

In Chennai, Devaraj "Deva" runs a strict boarding house. After learning of his friend Rajasekhar's death, he attends the funeral, but Rajasekhar's daughter Preethi drives him away. A drunken friend, Ravi, admits that he and Rajasekhar ruined their lives, prompting Deva to investigate. Though the autopsy claims a heart attack, Deva finds evidence of chest trauma. Ravi reveals that Rajasekhar, to fund his daughters' education, had invented an electric chair for cremating animal remains. When his patent was rejected for concern of criminal misuse, Simon coerced him into using it to dispose of murder victims. Dayal tries to abduct Preethi as she knows how to operate the chair, but Deva intervenes and joins the operation, using the chair with her help. Deva tells Preethi to quit her job, but Preethi is helpless as she wants to support her sisters.

Eventually, Simon asks Deva to bury Dayal, claiming he was an undercover cop. They discover Dayal alive; he reveals his identity and threatens Preethi. Simon shows Deva a video of Dayal killing Rajasekhar. Dayal later contacts Deva from Nellore, demanding obedience and holding Preethi hostage in his hideout. Deva, following Dayal's orders, gains access to a harbour vault and uncovers a heart-trafficking ring targeting coolies from Saravanan. One order is to kill Arjun, but Deva spares him and asks him to run away with his lover in a boat. Dayal retaliates by threatening Preethi on a rooftop, but Deva unsettles him by revealing his real name, Dilip, and his police past as a Constable with the Kerala Police in Thrissur.

Production

During the filming for Master in late 2019, it was reported that director Lokesh Kanagaraj had met Rajinikanth at his residence in Chennai and narrated a script that impressed the actor. According to reports, the project, which would have been Rajinikanth's 169th film, was expected to be produced by Raaj Kamal Films International, with a planned start in April 2020, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Rajinikanth's prior commitments to Annaatthe (2021).

Though some reports suggested that the project was shelved due to Rajinikanth's political ambitions, others said the project was still active. In August 2020, Lokesh refused to confirm or deny the project, stating that only the producers could do so. Instead, Lokesh went on to develop a film with Kamal Haasan, which materialised as Vikram (2022). Rajinikanth's 169th film ultimately became Jailer (2023), directed by Nelson Dilipkumar.

Reports of a potential collaboration between Lokesh and Rajinikanth resurfaced in April 2023, followed by a reported photoshoot with the actor in May. Actors Mysskin and Babu Antony, who had appeared in Lokesh's Leo (2023), later hinted at Lokesh and Rajinikanth's collaboration. Lokesh again refused to confirm or deny the project's existence in July, until Sun Pictures announced the film, tentatively titled Thalaivar 171, on 11 September.

Music

The soundtrack is composed by Anirudh Ravichander, in his fourth collaboration with Lokesh after Master, Vikram and Leo; fifth with Rajinikanth after Petta, Darbar (2020), Jailer and Vettaiyan. The audio rights were acquired by Sun Pictures's own company. The first single "Chikitu" was released on 25 June 2025, the second single, "Monica", on 11 July 2025, and the third single, "Powerhouse", on 22 July 2025. The audio launch, releasing the remaining tracks from the album, was held on 2 August 2025 at the Nehru Stadium in Chennai.

Marketing

The first look poster was released on 28 March 2024, without any pre-announcement, and notably revealed that the teaser trailer would be released on 22 April. The teaser trailer also revealed the film's title. Hardika Gupta of NDTV noted that the teaser paid homage to Rajinikanth's iconic roles as a coolie in Mullum Malarum (1978), Mannan (1992) and Uzhaippali (1993), while Manoj Kumar R of OTTPlay noted the use of easter eggs from Rajinikanth's filmography, which included Rajinikanth singing "Sambo Siva Sambo" from Ninaithale Inikkum (1979), and the popular dialogue "Appavum Thaathavum", which itself is based on the lyric from the aforementioned song, from Ranga (1982). At the end of the teaser, Rajinikanth whistles the tune of the song "Shenbagame" from Enga Ooru Pattukaran (1987).

Key details