Soundarya Rajinikanth, daughter of the legendary actor Rajinikanth, has expressed her admiration and pride for her father's latest film, "Coolie," which was released on August 14, 2025. The film, directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, has generated considerable buzz and anticipation among fans and critics alike.
Soundarya shared her thoughts and feelings about the movie in a heartfelt post, showering praises on her father for his illustrious 50-year journey in the film industry. She lauded Rajinikanth for not just being a part of cinema but for shaping, redefining, and elevating it to unprecedented heights. She emphasized how he has inspired generations, set benchmarks, and become the heartbeat of the industry.
In her post, Soundarya proudly declared herself as Rajinikanth's daughter and expressed her immense love for him. She mentioned that she would repeatedly watch the last 10 minutes of "Coolie," particularly the flashback sequence, and cheer for her father every single time. Soundarya concluded her note by proclaiming Rajinikanth as the best, the one and only, and an eternal leader.
"Coolie" marks Rajinikanth's 171st film as a lead actor. The film is an action thriller co-written and directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj and produced by Kalanithi Maran under Sun Pictures. Alongside Rajinikanth, the movie features an ensemble cast including Nagarjuna, Soubin Shahir, Upendra, Shruti Haasan, Sathyaraj, Rachita Ram, Kanna Ravi and Aamir Khan. In "Coolie," a former coolie union leader investigates his friend's death, which leads him to a crime syndicate.
The film's release has been met with widespread excitement, with fans celebrating it like a festival. Huge crowds gathered outside theaters for the first-day-first-show, with the areas filled with posters, banners, and giant cutouts of the superstar. Some fans even flew from Australia to watch the film in Chennai.
"Coolie" has made a significant impact at the box office, earning an estimated Rs 65-66 crore domestically on its opening day. The film has also performed well overseas, with collections standing near Rs 75 crore, bringing the worldwide opening day gross to approximately Rs 140 crore. The film has broken premiere records in the US, surpassing the $3 million mark and setting a new benchmark for Tamil cinema.
However, the film has also received mixed reviews from critics. Some have praised Rajinikanth's charismatic presence and Lokesh Kanagaraj's storytelling vision, while others have found the film to be underwhelming and overstuffed with ideas. A few critics have pointed out that Lokesh Kanagaraj seemed to compromise his signature style to embrace Rajinikanth's mass appeal.
Despite the mixed reviews, "Coolie" is undeniably a landmark cinematic event, celebrating Rajinikanth's 50 years in the film industry. The film is a testament to his enduring popularity and his ability to captivate audiences with his style, power, and larger-than-life persona. Soundarya Rajinikanth's heartfelt reaction to "Coolie" reflects the sentiments of countless fans who have been inspired and entertained by her father's work for decades.
