Rajinikanth's Coolie draws frenzy in Kerala's Ernakulam with 350 houseful shows across 30-plus screens
That the movie, 171th in his career, also marked the actor's golden jubilee in the tinsel town was another reason for Rajinikanth fans to celebrate.
The excitement around the movie lived up to the hype even before its release, as advance bookings witnessed an unprecedented high. Starting from 6 a.m. up until midnight, nearly 350 shows across 32 theatres and multiplex screens in Ernakulam, all of them houseful, have been scheduled for the opening day. A multiplex in Kochi city packed in as many as 30 shows, followed closely by another with 27 shows.
With an extended weekend beginning with Independence Day on Friday, tickets have become a prized possession. 'This will be one of the biggest openings for a movie. Screens have packed in shows without break till midnight. And the rush is not just confined to theatres and multiplexes in the city, but in the suburbs as well,' said K. Vijayakumar, president of Film Exhibitors United Organization of Kerala (FEUOK).
With positive word-of-mouth following the initial shows, buzz around the movie is already strong. 'The swag Rajinikanth, who is well into his 70s, is still able to bring on screen is unbelievable,' said Manoj Kumar, before walking in to watch the fan show in a multiplex at Maradu.
Coolie has an added draw for Kerala audiences, with Malayalam actor Soubin Shahir's dance in the song 'Monica...' going viral ahead of its release.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
13 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Jagapathi Babu hits back at criticism of ‘boring' Telugu cinema ruined by nepotism: ‘Don't watch it then'
Tollywood actor Jagapathi Babu uploaded a video called Preminchukundham Randi (let us love) on YouTube in which he addressed fan queries and comments on his life, career and Tollywood. When a fan commented that Telugu cinema was 'boring' and that nepotism in the industry was hindering new talent from succeeding, here's how he responded. Jagapathi Babu uploaded a video titled Preminchukundham Randi in which he addressed fan questions and comments. Jagapathi Babu on Telugu cinema being 'boring' and nepotism Jagapathi read the comment out loud and stated that he does not agree with either statement made by the fan. He said, 'If Telugu cinema is boring, don't watch it then.' The actor then addressed the nepotism comment, talking of how being producer-director VB Rajendra Prasad opened doors for him, but he had to struggle to sustain. He said, 'It's not true that nepotism is stopping new talent from entering the film industry. You see so many new actors thriving on OTT and in small films today, and how some kids from film families don't succeed. Take me for example, I am from a film family, and it did not help me with anything other than to enter the industry. I have to struggle to sustain myself.' Tollywood's biggest stars hail from film families like Konidela, Allu, Akkineni, Ghattamaneni, Daggubati, and more. While actors like the late NTR, ANR, Krishna, or Chiranjeevi were pioneers in films, their children and other family members have followed in their footsteps to become the film industry's biggest stars today. About Jagapathi Babu Jagapathi has worked primarily in Telugu films but also in a few Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, and Hindi films. He debuted as a lead with the 1989 film Simha Swapnam and tasted success in the 1990s and early 2000s. After seeing the lead roles dry up, he turned to playing antagonist roles, starring in the 2014 Balakrishna-starrer Legend. He has had a second innings in cinema since then. Last seen in Pushpa 2: The Rule, Jagapathi will soon star in Peddi with Ram Charan.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
‘Coolie' box office collections day 3: Rajinikanth's film strikes gold; storms past Rs 118.5
(Picture Courtesy: Facebook) Superstar Rajinikanth has once again reminded the world why he's called the 'Thalaivar' of Indian cinema. His latest outing, 'Coolie', directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, has stormed through the box office, crossing a staggering Rs 118.5 crore net in just three days across India, as reported by the Sacnilk website. The film also features an all-star ensemble, including Akkineni Nagarjuna, Shruti Haasan, Upendra, Sathyaraj, Soubin Shahir, and Aamir Khan in a pivotal role. Reportedly, day 1 saw a thundering start with Rs 65 crore. It was dominated by Tamil collections at Rs 44.5 crore which was followed by Telugu at Rs 15.5 crore, Hindi at Rs 4.5 crore, and Kannada at Rs 50 lakh. While Day 2 saw a slight dip to Rs 53.5 crore, the momentum remained strong. By the end of Day 3, Coolie had already crossed the coveted Rs 100 crore mark. Now the total collections in 3 days stand at Rs 118.5 crore. From theatres to trending — the 'Coolie' mania Across India, theatres have been running houseful shows, with fans celebrating Coolie screenings like festivals. With Sunday and the extended Independence Day weekend still contributing to its earnings, 'Coolie' could comfortably breach the Rs 150 crore mark within its first week. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Hrithik calls Rajinikanth his 'first teacher' ahead of 'War 2' vs 'Coolie' clash ETimes gave the film a rating of 3 stars out of 5 and an excerpt from our official review reads, "While the first half could have been tighter, the second half more than compensates, making Coolie a high-energy, nostalgic, and entertaining ride for fans. Coolie 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 cameos, in particular, outshine Lokesh's previous outings, delivering memorable performances that enhance the story without ever feeling forced." DISCLAIMER: The box office numbers in this article are compiled from our proprietary sources and diverse public data. While we strive for accuracy, all figures are approximate unless explicitly mentioned, offering a fair representation of the project's box office performance. We are open to feedback and suggestions on toientertainment@ . "Get the latest news updates on Times of India, including reviews of the movie Coolie and War 2 ."
News18
an hour ago
- News18
War 2 Box Office Day 2: Hrithik Roshan-Jr NTR Film Crosses Rs 100 Crore Mark
Last Updated: Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR's War 2 crosses Rs 100 crore in two days, beating Rajinikanth's Coolie on day 2 with Rs 55.79 crore earnings. War 2 Box Office Day 2: After a decent start on day 1, Ayan Mukerji's War 2 showed solid growth on its second day at the box office, benefiting from the Independence Day holiday. Starring Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR, the big-budget action entertainer added Rs 55.79 crore on Friday, August 15, taking its India net total to Rs 107.29 crore in just two days. The film's recovery has silenced early doubts after trade analysts criticized its 'subpar" opening of Rs 52.25 crore. With strong audience pull, War 2 now finds itself competing head-to-head with Rajinikanth's Coolie, which stands at Rs 109.8 crore after two days. War 2 Box Office Collection Day 2 On its first day, War 2 collected Rs 29 crore in Hindi and Rs 23.25 crore in Telugu, totaling Rs 52.25 crore. While this would normally be celebrated, expectations were sky-high considering the star power of Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR. Many felt the film should have touched Rs 75 crore or even Rs 100 crore on opening day, surpassing the Rs 53 crore debut of War (2019). However, War 2 managed an impressive rebound on day 2, adding Rs 55.79 crore. Crucially, it outperformed Coolie on the same day, which earned Rs 44.8 crore. This shift places War 2 firmly back in the race and makes the coming weekend crucial for both blockbusters. About War 2 and the YRF Spy Universe Directed by Ayan Mukerji, War 2 is a pivotal entry in Yash Raj Films' expanding Spy Universe, which already includes Tiger films and Pathaan. The post-credits sequence teases the introduction of Bobby Deol in Alpha, the next chapter of the franchise starring Alia Bhatt and Sharvari. Apart from Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR, War 2 features Kiara Advani and Ashutosh Rana in key roles. With a reported budget of over Rs 300 crore, the film will need sustained collections to secure box office success. Despite mixed reviews, the star power of its lead actors and Spyverse branding are driving audiences to theatres. If War 2 maintains momentum over the weekend, it could emerge as one of the biggest films of the year. view comments First Published: August 16, 2025, 05:20 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
