Coolie The Powerhouse Review: Mediocre revenge drama failed to match the expectations
Coolie The Powerhouse Movie Rating: 2.5 Stars
Watched Coolie The Powerhouse movie in Hindi Cinema. Let’s focus on the complete details, story, positive/negatives and at last my view on this movie.
Cast: Rajinikanth, Nagarjuna Akkineni, Soubin Shahir, Upendra, Shruti Haasan, Sathyaraj, Rachita Ram, Aamir Khan and Pooja Hegde
Director: Lokesh Kanagaraj
Release Date: 14th August 2025 in cinemas
Story: The film opens at a bustling port in Vizag, where Kingpin Simon (Nagarjuna) and his aide Dayal (Soubin Shahir) run an illegal operation. After a police diktat stops them from disposing of bodies at sea, they turn to Rajshekhar (Sathyaraj) who is a former laborer who has invented a chair capable of cremating bodies instantly, leaving only ashes.
Originally discarded by the government for its dangerous potential, the invention now falls into the wrong hands. When Rajshekhar is killed his longtime friend Deva (Rajinikanth), who had been working in the background, steps into the fray and contacted his daughter Preeti (Shruti Haasan) and her two sisters and attempts to keep them safe as the goons chance after them in order to fulfil some shady deals.
What begins as a mission to uncover his friend’s murderer soon unravels secrets from Deva’s own past, tying old loose ends to the present conflict. Who is Simon really, and what is his true business behind the facade of smuggling? Does he share a hidden past with Deva? And who exactly is Deva, with his own mysterious history? Who is Dayal and what is his connection with this story? How Deva confronts these truths is all about this movie.
Positives
1. Performances
2. Cinematography
3. Background Music
4. Climax
Negatives
1. Length
2. Story
3. Uneven Screenplay
4. Direction
Durgesh Tiwary’s View: When I watched the trailer of this film planned to watch this movie in cinemas in on its release day as loved the trailer and its coming in Hindi dubbed. In the film, a former coolie union leader investigates the death of his friend which leads him to a crime syndicate.
Coolie The Powerhouse story is very long drawn and often convoluted and contrived. While the first half could have been tighter, the second half more than compensates, making film a high-energy, nostalgic, and entertaining ride for fans. It emerges as one of Rajinikanth’s most electrifying outings in recent years, surpassing his previous films in sheer energy and style. It caters not just to die-hard fans but also to casual viewers, balancing nostalgia with interesting storytelling. The flashback portions, especially the Rajini–Sathyaraj sequences, are a treat, as the two icons come together on screen after 40 years. Sathyaraj and Shruti Haasan bring solid support, never tipping into excess, while the mass appeal and emotional beats keep the second half gripping, with well-timed outbursts landing just right. The de-aging of Rajinikanth is pure mass seamlessly done, it adds a nostalgic punch.Lokesh seems to have learned from the tonal missteps of his previous outing, striking a smarter balance this time. With Girish Gangadharan behind the camera, the visuals, lighting, and composition look top-notch. The VFX, the fight choreography by the Anbarivu duo should be lauded. Soubin Shahir, stepping into a role initially intended for Fahadh Faasil, delivers a layered performance rich in action and emotional depth. Rachitha Ram, though present briefly, benefits from a well-crafted character with a neat twist. The mansion fight, Rajini–Nag face-off and select emotional beats stand out. Though this film may not reach the heights of Kaithi or Vikram, it is far from disappointing, delivering a thoroughly entertaining experience that keeps audiences engaged.
On the flipside, A star cast can only shine if backed by solid content, and here the story lacks the strength to sustain interest. Even a simple plot can engage if executed with flair, but the narrative pacing and depth falter. Lokesh failed big time to deliver it. The characters seem impeccable and interesting on paper, but when they are brought to life, they lack depth and an overall personality. Despite the long runtime, many characters were underdeveloped and seemed to exist for namesake, leaving several answers unclear. The screenplay is so round-and-about that the drama often tests the viewers’ patience. Oftentimes, the turns and twists are so convenient that the audience realize that this is a weak part of the screenplay. For instance, Deva leaving Preeti to look after Dayal looks like a very convenient twist. The second half has too many tracks and, therefore, becomes even more confusing than the pre-interval portion. Frankly, the plot lacks cohesiveness. Climax is predictable. Lokesh Kanagaraj’s direction is technically sound, but his narration doesn’t quite impress. A couple of subplots are unnecessarily roped into the narrative, diluting the film’s overall impact. In this regard, Lokesh clearly needs to elevate his writing from mediocrity. While the emotional resonance of the characters feels forced, the cameo by Aamir Khan was a wasted moment, despite the actor having an uber-cool look.
Overall movie is mediocre revenge drama with decent storyline and neat execution. It is not the next Vikram nor a new Kaithi. It is a watchable action drama, driven by Rajinikanth’s magnetic screen presence, Soubin Shahir’s strong characterization with enough fan-pleasing elements stylish fights, key confrontations, and a handful of engaging moments. A predictable yet interesting twist, around thirty minutes of racy screenplay in the second half along with a couple of superb action blocks, made the film a decent watch but a bit more care in the screenplay & the direction during the last thirty to forty minutes should have made it a better film. Chances of your liking the film may increase if you can keep your expectations in check before entering into theatres. My view on this film Time Pass only if you are big fan of Rajinikanth.
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