Coolie - Movie Review

Coolie,  written and directed by Lokesh Kanakaraj, is a wonderful ode to the superstar's style and acting skills. It captures his charm, mischief, humor, emotions and the villainous traits. And he just aces it with his usual addictive grace. In short, this is a paisa vasool for a fan who has enjoyed him in movies like Aarilirundhu Arubadhu Varai, Padikkadhavan, Basha, Thalapathy and even Muthu flashback. Hidden within his charm is a melancholy, often reflected in his eyes. That vulnerability dictates why he has been the undeniable superstar for 50 years! That's a minimum of 5 generations!!

Coolie is one of the rare movies where most of the assemble cast have a character arc. They leave a mark. Needless to say, Soubin Shahir is the show stealer as the menacing villain. Nagarjuna, to be honest, was too charming to be a scary villain. Sudeep has a wonderful supporting role. Aamir's character was the least expected, in a good way indeed. The glitch, if I must say, is Shruthi Hassan's character. It appeared underdeveloped and lacked any spunk. She aced the emotional scenes and mostly came across timid, damsel in never ending distress. I hoped for an Agent Tina like spin off. It was disappointing. On the contrary,  Rachita Ram's solid character was brilliant.

The saturated hues, close up shots of the superstar and the wide shots at the harbor are well done by the cinematographer, Girish Gangadharan. In one of the interviews,  Lokesh said there are separate bound scripts each for direction and editing. The crisp editing really works, especially considering the saga with multiple flashbacks are conveyed effectively. Good job by editor Philomin Raj. Honestly, I didn't enjoy any of the singles. But it totally worked as part of the movie. Uyirnadi Nanbane hit in a different level. And the unexpected BGM during the fight sequence at the mansion was entertaining. Anirudh rocks!

Overall, this is a wholesome entertainer. Glad that it has A certificate because the violence, as usual, is another level. Highly recommend it for a theatrical experience. Kudos to Lokesh for delivering a movie that aligns with his cinematic aesthetics yet blends artfully into the expectations of superstar's fans