Filmmaker Lokesh Kanagaraj is choosing reflection over defensiveness. Months after Coolie hit theatres and sparked divided opinions, the director has openly acknowledged the criticism around the Rajinikanth-led
film, saying the feedback has pushed him to reassess his storytelling and learn from the experience.
Speaking at a recent press event in Chennai, Lokesh addressed the conversations surrounding Coolie, which released on August 14 to mixed reviews. While the film opened strong at the box office thanks to Rajinikanth’s massive fan base, sections of the audience and critics felt it fell short creatively. Lokesh said he had been paying close attention to the reactions online and offline.
During his speech in Tamil, the director said, “I wanted to address a few things spoken about me on social media. Firstly, I thank the audience for the reception they gave to Coolie. It ran for 35 days in theatres. I don’t want to get into the box office numbers, but my producers- Sun Pictures, have told me that it was a profitable venture.”
He went on to acknowledge both appreciation and criticism, making it clear that every response mattered to him. “I am grateful that it ran for 35 days and got such collections beyond all the criticisms. I thank audiences, press, media, YouTubers, critics, meme pages and whoever spoke about the film in some way. I thank them all. The criticism made me think a lot. I understood the kind of cinema and storytelling the audience wants from me. I take all of that as lessons, and I will try my best to ensure my upcoming films don’t get such criticisms.”
Released during the Independence Day weekend, Coolie featured a large ensemble cast including Rajinikanth, Nagarjuna, Soubin Shahir, Shruti Haasan, Sathyaraj, Rachita Ram, Upendra and Aamir Khan. The film clashed with War 2 at the box office but still managed to hold steady during its theatrical run.
The film follows Deva (Rajinikanth), a former union leader who sets out to uncover the truth behind the sudden death of his friend Rajasekhar (Sathyaraj). His search brings him into conflict with gangster Simon (Nagarjuna) and Simon’s trusted aide Dayal (Soubin Shahir). Despite polarised reviews, Coolie went on to cross ₹500 crore worldwide.
For Lokesh Kanagaraj, the response to Coolie appears to be less about numbers and more about growth — a checkpoint that has shaped how he plans to approach his future films.
