Coolie

Coolie

Year: 2025

Runtime: 170 mins

Language: Tamil

Director: Lokesh Kanagaraj

Echo Score: 57
ActionThrillerCrime

Once living, Deva’s world shatters when his close friend is found dead under mysterious circumstances. Driven to get answers, he goes undercover in a shadowy gang. As his investigation deepens, he is drawn into a tangled web of crime, betrayal and revelations about his past, forcing him to battle formidable enemies while protecting those he loves.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Coolie yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline – Coolie (2025)

Trace every key event in Coolie (2025) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Smuggling operation at Visakhapatnam harbour

At Visakhapatnam harbour, Simon runs a gold and luxury watches trafficking operation with his lieutenant Dayal. An undercover officer posing as a coolie is killed by Dayal during a sting, triggering a manhunt for exposure. Dayal then offers a ₹2 crore reward to anyone who can expose another undercover officer in the gang.

Present day Visakhapatnam harbour
2

Arjun rejects the family crime business

Arjun rejects his family's criminal enterprise and chooses a career as a customs officer, creating a personal rift with his father and the operation. He remains stationed in Visakhapatnam as a thorn in the side of the trafficking network. This decision sets up the ongoing tension between law enforcement and the smuggling syndicate.

Present day Visakhapatnam
3

Chennai boarding house and funeral

In Chennai, Deva runs a strict boarding house and is shaken by his friend Rajasekhar's death. He attends Rajasekhar's funeral, but Preethi coldly rebuffs him, and their friend Ravi admits that he and Rajasekhar ruined their lives. This fuels Deva's decision to investigate the circumstances behind Rajasekhar's death.

Present day Chennai
4

Autopsy and the electric chair

The autopsy claims a heart attack, but Deva uncovers evidence of chest trauma that suggests foul play. Rajasekhar had invented an electric chair for cremating animal remains, and Simon coerced him to adapt it for human use to dispose of murder victims. The discovery links the chair to the network Deva is about to confront.

Present day Chennai
5

Dayal's abduction attempt and Deva's intervention

Dayal tries to abduct Preethi, who knows how to operate the electric chair. Deva intervenes and joins the operation, aided by Preethi, and they manage to fend off the attempt with the chair. The confrontation marks Deva's move from investigation to direct action.

Present day Chennai
6

Deva pushes Preethi to quit her job

Deva urges Preethi to quit her job to protect her sisters, highlighting the danger the family faces. Preethi remains determined to support her sisters despite the risks. The exchange underlines the personal stakes for both characters.

Present day Chennai
7

Bury Dayal? and the video of Rajasekhar's death

Simon asks Deva to bury Dayal, claiming he was an undercover cop; Dayal returns alive and reveals his true identity, threatening Preethi. Simon shows Deva a video of Dayal killing Rajasekhar, escalating the vendetta and drawing Deva deeper into the conspiracy.

Present day Chennai
8

Nellore call and the harbour vault discovery

Dayal contacts Deva from Nellore, holding Preethi hostage in his hideout. Deva then pursues a lead to a harbour vault and uncovers a heart trafficking ring operating in the city, linked to the larger smuggling operation. He discovers that one order from Dayal targets Arjun for elimination.

Present day Nellore
9

Arjun spared; told to run

Deva, acting on Dayal's orders to expose the heart-trafficking ring, spares Arjun and tells him to run away with his lover. This moment deepens the personal stakes for Deva, who is torn between family and justice. Arjun escapes, unaware of the larger danger still to come.

Present day Visakhapatnam harbour
10

Rooftop threat and Dilip reveal

Dayal threatens Preethi on a rooftop, forcing Deva to reveal his real name, Dilip, and his police past. The revelation shocks Dayal and confirms Deva's long-standing connection to law enforcement. The scene raises the stakes as Deva commits to stopping Dayal at all costs.

Present day Chennai rooftop
11

Kalyani captures, confession and pursuit

Deva captures Dayal's wife Kalyani, who has been posing as Arjun's lover. She frees herself, kills Ravi, and admits that she and Dayal are undercover partners. She orders Dayal to pursue Preethi, tightening the net around Deva and his allies.

Present day Chennai
12

Preethi's train escape and daughter reveal

Preethi escapes on a train and uses a code from Rajasekhar to call Deva, revealing in the process that she is Deva's daughter. The revelation adds an emotional dimension to the quest as past and present collide. The escape signals a turning point in the pursuit and protection of Deva's family.

Present day Train
13

Storming the ship and the Mandwa flashback

Deva storms the ship, recounting his 30-year-old past as a Mandwa coolie union leader under Xavier and Kakkar. The past explains the feud at the heart of Simon's life and the cost in coolie lives when they resisted exploitation. Deva duels and kills Simon as the ship is wrecked by the furious coolies.

Present day (with flashback to 30 years ago) On the ship
14

Desert captivity and Dahaa's offer

After the ship, Deva, Kaleesha, Preethi and her sisters are captured and taken to a desert by a global syndicate leader named Dahaa, who is revealed to be Kakkar's son. Dahaa offers Deva a place as his right-hand man, conditional on sparing the coolies. Dayal is finally captured and buried alive as part of the upheaval.

Present day Desert
15

Farewell abroad and forgiveness

Preethi and her sisters depart abroad, forgiving Deva without knowing he is her father, and calling him 'uncle'. The emotional resolution arrives as they start a new life far from the danger. Deva remains a protective, unseen father figure as they move away.

Final/epilogue Abroad

Last Updated: December 04, 2025 at 15:32

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This thread groups films that successfully merge the visceral thrills of the action genre with the weight of a serious drama. They share a high intensity level, a dark and melancholic mood, and an ending that acknowledges the scars left by the journey, providing a emotionally complex experience.

Unlock the Full Story of Coolie

Don't stop at just watching — explore Coolie in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Coolie is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Coolie Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Coolie, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Coolie Summary

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Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Coolie. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in Coolie

Coolie Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Coolie that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

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