Ever since the release of Coolie, Rajinikanth-Lokesh Kanagaraj's actioner, not just fans, but also noted celebrities including Dhanush, Sivakarthikeyan and several directors thronged theatres to catch a glimpse of the actor, more so as he celebrates his 50th year in the industry.

Director Karthik Subbaraj, who directed Rajinikanth in Petta, heaped praise on Lokesh Kanagaraj's Coolie and said it was a "Thalaivar show" through and through. "Thalaivar's mass, swag n style was awesome in many moments," he wrote on his X handle, expressing his excitement through fire emojis for Rajinikanth's flashback portions.

A day ahead of the release, the filmmaker wrote a handwritten note on his love for Rajinikanth and shared it on his Instagram handle. "From my first standard days where notebooks were filled with sketches like these.... till now where my laptop is filled with script ideas for you, the love, the owe, the excitement I get seeing you on screen while I talk about you, while I adored you, while I fight for you, you from distance when directing Petta, while I am waiting now to watch you tomorrow in Coolie... can never ever be explained in words....You are next level for me Thalaivaa. Thanks for existing in cinema... 50 years & many more to come," he wrote. Karthik Subbaraj last made Retro with Suriya and Pooja Hegde.

Meanwhile Coolie has been getting mixed reviews from fans and critics, with many praising Rajinikanth's screen presence, but criticising its screenplay. Apart from Rajinikanth, the film stars an ensemble cast featuring Nagarjuna, Upendra, Soubin Shahir, Shruti Haasan, Sathyaraj and Aamir Khan, among others.