The first poster revealed the trailer release date and showed all characters in the background with Rajinikanth at the center. Shortly after, another poster was released announcing the trailer's release time on August 2, 2025, which again drew comparisons, this time to Rebel Moon.
Although the filmmakers have not addressed the allegations, social media has been flooded with criticism, suggesting the visuals were blatantly copied. This wave of negativity has overshadowed the original intent of the promotions.
It is unclear whether these similarities were intentional. Director Lokesh Kanagaraj, known for his originality, has never been accused of copying before. This raises questions about whether he was involved in the poster designs at all.
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With Lokesh currently managing multiple projects, it's possible he wasn't directly overseeing the promotional materials. He might not have anticipated the controversy that is now gaining traction online.
What remains to be seen is whether this controversy will impact the film's box office performance. Rajinikanth is known for commanding massive openings, but long-term success depends on the film's content.
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If Coolie delivers engaging and entertaining storytelling, the audience may overlook the current backlash. As this marks Rajinikanth and Lokesh's first collaboration following the failure of Vettaiyan, expectations for a strong comeback are high.
Manaswini KManaswini is a senior writer with extensive experience covering Telugu cinema, as well as the broader Indian film landscape, including Bollywood, Tamil, and other regional industries. With a strong focus on NRI (Non-Resi…