Bengaluru’s long-standing complaint about steep cinema ticket prices has flared up again, this time over Rajinikanth’s much-anticipated Coolie. While Tamil Nadu fans will be watching the superstar’s latest on August 14, 2025, for no more than ₹200 a seat, early-morning shows in Karnataka are commanding jaw-dropping sums.
When advance bookings opened on Saturday, August 9, Coolie didn’t just create hype; it smashed records. In just half an hour, the Lokesh Kanagaraj-directed action film sold roughly 10,000 tickets for 66 shows, becoming the fastest film to hit that milestone in Bengaluru.
But the numbers that had fans talking in Karnataka weren’t just about ticket sales. At Swagath Shankar Nag on M.G. Road, Gold Recliner seats for the 6 am and 7 am shows were listed at ₹2,000 each, with Gold seats going for ₹1,500 and Silver/Lounge priced at ₹1,000. Lakshmi Cinema in Taverekere wasn’t far behind, asking ₹1,000 for Diamond class and ₹800 for Gold. Across most early-morning and morning shows in the city, tickets averaged ₹400–₹500, though more single screens are expected to join the ₹1,000-per-ticket bandwagon soon.
The backlash on social media was swift, with many drawing comparisons to Tamil Nadu’s capped rates, even at multiplexes like Mayajaal in Chennai. Bengaluru, meanwhile, remains notorious for its expensive movie-going experience.
Apart from Rajinikanth, Coolie boasts an ensemble cast featuring Upendra, Soubin Shahir, Shruti Haasan, Sathyaraj, Nagarjuna, and Aamir Khan, among others.
Rachita Ram, Reba Monica John, Junior MGR, Kanna Ravi, Monisha Blessy, Kaali Venkat, and Charle appear in supporting roles. Plot details have been kept under wraps for now.
On the technical front, the film has action choreography by Anbariv, cinematography by Girish Gangadharan, editing by Philomin Raj, choreography by Sandy, and production design by Sathees Kumar.
