One of the most-hyped films to be released this season, Coolie: The Powerhouse, which marks superstar Rajinikanth’s comeback to the silver screen is, as expected, an out-and-out entertainer. Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, the film blends a strong storyline with massy elements to concoct a formula filled with action, suspense, humour and dark comedy, and sprinkled with some colourful song-and-dance sequences. But what swings the deal for Coolie is the larger-than-life presence of Rajinikanth, who easily rules the screen and clearly demonstrates in every frame why he continues to command a massive fan following, even as a septuagenarian.
Coolie can in fact be labelled as a film that celebrates 50 years of the megastar’s outstanding career. His swag, style and charisma intact, his character Deva is truly the boss of the masses. His jaunty walk, famous cigarette flip, exaggerated style of dialogue delivery with its extra punches and pauses, are all in place. A man with a mysterious past, his character endears himself to the audience instantly. Though he does not get any grand screen entry in Coolie, his power and influence over those whose lives he has touched is underscored in every scene, which grows stronger and stronger as the plot thickens and the audience discovers unknown facts and facets of his life and deeds.
The world of crime, corruption and decadence with which the story opens is cleverly connected to Deva’s story through the film’s core themes of friendship, loyalty, betrayal and revenge. Kanagaraj tries his best to sustain the interest of viewers through the introduction of multiple plots and characters that add a fresh layer of curiosity and intrigue.
The ensemble cast of Coolie, featuring A-listers from Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu and Hindi films, impresses with its range, depth and diversity. Sathyaraj’s role in flashback as Rajsekhar brings to the fore his emotional connection to Deva, his old friend. Shruti Haasan as Preeti delivers a mature, restrained yet powerful performance and adds a touch of feminine energy and power to the film’s many testosterone-heavy action sequences. Nagarjuna, in his most villainous avatar yet, as Simon, an ultra-stylish, unscrupulous, mafia kingpin, strikes terror with his calm yet menacing demeanour both on and off the screen. Soubin Shahir as Dayal is a standout as the disgustingly corrupt and brutal aide of Simon. Aamir Khan, who appears in a cameo, adds a touch of twisted humour to the story of crime and violence, while Pooja Hegde adds some glamour, colour and relief to the film’s many tense and action-filled moments.
An intensely violent film, perhaps with the most deadly action sequences ever done by Rajinikanth, Coolie shocks with its scenes of blood and gore and the many grisly scenes of killing and violence. Though it starts off at a slow and uniform pace, the film begins to sag with the weight of its multiple layers of plotting after intermission. The tension in Coolie is allowed to escalate gradually and attain a particular momentum with its second half being totally devoted to the unravelling of the plot. However, several flashbacks and overlapping threads of the complex storyline make the execution somewhat clumsy and rushed, leaving the audience gasping to get a hold on the story and make sense of the characters’ motives.
Yet with all its logic-defying stunts, impossible chases and fight sequences, its many plot twists and a protracted ending, Coolie’s star power and sheer energy ensure that the audience gets its money’s worth by the time the curtains fall.