Coolie stands as yet another reminder of how pre-release hype doesn’t always guarantee success at the box office. Director Lokesh Kanagaraj, who gained cult following with Kaithi and Vikram, had already faced mixed reactions with Leo. Many fans expected him to bounce back with Coolie, but the film failed to match the buzz. Critics and audiences pointed out that its inconsistent narrative, lack of logic in several scenes, and a dragging screenplay made it fall flat.
Despite this, the massive pre-release hype worked in its favor initially, giving the film strong openings. However, once word of mouth spread, it became evident that Coolie was far from the blockbuster audiences had hoped for.
Speaking for the first time after the film’s release, Lokesh addressed the criticism during a public event. He explained that many viewers assumed Coolie would either be a time-travel-based story or connected to the Lokesh Cinematic Universe (LCU) because of the trailer. But he reminded everyone that he had clearly stated before release that the film would not have those elements.
Lokesh also admitted that he cannot design stories solely to meet assumptions or hype. “Coolie may not have matched expectations, but I will put in even stronger effort for my next film,” he assured, adding that his upcoming project will be something completely unpredictable for audiences.
While Kaithi 2 was widely expected to be his immediate next project, recent industry reports suggest that Lokesh is instead planning a mega film starring both Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan, a collaboration that has already sparked massive excitement.
