Newsroom, November 22, 2025: Lokesh Kanagaraj's latest directorial Coolie, starring Rajinikanth, has stumbled at the box office, marking a rare setback for the filmmaker behind blockbusters like Kaithi, Vikram, and Leo.
The action drama, released amid massive hype, failed to meet expectations, with muted word-of-mouth and competition from festive releases, pulling in under Rs 150 crore worldwide against a budget of Rs 200 crore. Critics praised the technical finesse and Rajini's charisma, but noted a predictable plot and pacing issues that didn't resonate with the mass audience.
The dip ends Lokesh's winning run, raising questions on his formula of dark, interconnected universes. Yet, supporters point to his consistent quality and argue one miss doesn't define a career that redefined Tamil cinema's scale. With projects like Vijay's Thalapathy 69 lined up, Lokesh aims to bounce back.
