Coolie No. 1

Ranjani, played by Tabu, is a proud woman and the daughter of Singapore-based multimillionaire Koteswara Rao. Her life takes a dark turn during a train journey toward Hyderabad when she stops the train to retrieve a fallen lipstick, an act that leads to the death of Parvathamma. This tragic incident sets off a dangerous chain of confrontations, with Ranjani’s arrogance colliding repeatedly with the world around her. At Secunderabad Railway Station, a constant clash with a local coolie named Raju unfolds, and the two rise and clash in a tense back-and-forth that foreshadows far bigger trouble to come. Rranjani’s actions trigger a devastating consequence when she and her father wrongfully implicate Raju in a rape case, landing him in jail.

Raju, a hardworking and tough-minded man, manages to escape from jail. Driven by fear and pressure, Koteswara Rao and Ranjani travel to Singapore, where Raju arrives with the help of Gruhalakshmi, the woman who has stood by them. In Singapore, Raju assumes the guise of Bharat and presents himself as a big shot in front of Ranjani, who is drawn to his newly crafted persona. Their world shifts from adversaries to lovers, and the couple’s marriage seems almost inevitable. The truth, however, lies in wait: Buchi Babu, Koteswara Rao’s business partner, and his son Gopal (Mohan Babu) are determined to win Ranjani for themselves, and they quickly discover that Bharat is none other than Raju. After the wedding, Raju reveals his real identity, leaving Ranjani, and everyone else, shocked. The revelation fractures the newlyweds’ relationship, and Ranjani casts aside the sacred wedding chain, signaling a rupture in their bond.

Returning to India, Raju arranges a grand wedding reception to celebrate the union, but old feuds flare up. Koteswara Rao enlists a local goon, Ranga Rao, to disrupt the celebration, and a large communal riot erupts in Raju’s colony, resulting in the loss of many innocent lives. In response to escalating danger, Raju uses force to protect Koteswara Rao and bring a sense of order back to the family. He even goes so far as to sedate Ranjani and make her pregnant, a shocking turn that she cannot easily escape. Despite her efforts to terminate the pregnancy, she fails, and she ultimately gives birth to a baby boy. Yet, her pride remains intact, and she refuses to accept the child, throwing him away.

As the threat to their lives and their property grows, Ranga Rao, Buchi Babu, and Gopal intensify their attempts to seize the family’s wealth, and they beat Raju badly and kidnap the baby, using the child as leverage against Ranjani. In a moment of vulnerability, Ranjani falls to her knees before Raju and apologizes, recognizing the depth of her misjudgments. Raju steps in to protect the baby and to neutralize the threats posed by the conspirators, driving them away. The film closes on a note of forgiveness and reconciliation, with Raju and Ranjani choosing to remarry, their relationship rebuilt in the wake of hardship, tragedy, and the long arc of truth and redemption.

Last Updated: October 10, 2025 at 16:04