India, Aug. 15 -- It is a delight when a superstar meets a script worthy of their aura- it leads to magic. Think Jawan, Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Dangal, Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior. Equally, it is a letdown when the aura is on point but the script is too tangled in itself to notice what it has in hand. Coolie falls into the latter category.

Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, the film opens with a tribute to Thalaivar's 50 years in cinema. It sets you up for the ride you hope this will be. If there is one thing the southern industry does brilliantly, it is knowing how to celebrate its stars. Coolie aims to be an unabashed homage, evoking nostalgia for the Rajinikanth audiences first fell in love with.

The problem is that Coolie is far from perfect,...