BY SACNILK TEAM

With just three days to go, the wait for Superstar Rajinikanth and Lokesh Kanagaraj’s much-awaited collaboration, Coolie, is about to end. Slated for a massive worldwide release on August 14th, this magnum opus is already being hailed as one of the biggest Indian releases of the year. From its inception to its final cut, Coolie has been a journey brimming with hype, spectacle, and history in the making.Initially announced as Thalaivar 171, the official title Coolie was revealed through a thunderous announcement video, reimagining Rajinikanth’s iconic Ranga dialogue. The clever punchline — “Mudichidlaam ma” — playfully mirrored Kamal Haasan’s “Aarambikalaama” from Vikram, instantly setting the internet ablaze.Filming kicked off in July 2024, with an ensemble cast that only heightened expectations — Nagarjuna, Sathyaraj, Uppendra, Soubin Shahir, and Shruti Haasan. Then came the whispers of Aamir Khan joining the project, confirmed unofficially during the Jaipur schedule in December, where he filmed crucial scenes with Rajinikanth. Uppendra later made it official in April 2025.By February, buzz erupted over Pooja Hegde’s special dance number, which turned into the electrifying “Monica” track released in July — a riot of colours, infectious beats, and sizzling chemistry with Soubin Shahir. In late June, the first single “Chikitu” dropped — a kuthu party banger by Anirudh with T. Rajendar’s flamboyance and Arivu’s punchy lyrics, serving vintage Rajini dance vibes straight from the 80s. ##Shot with a colossal budget of ₹375 crore (with Rajinikanth's renumeration ₹150 crore and Lokesh ₹50 crore), Coolie made history in June as the biggest overseas buy for a Tamil film, fetching over ₹75 crore.In a surprising twist, the film earned an ‘A’ certificate — the first in Lokesh Kanagaraj’s career — promising unflinching action and emotional grit. Addressing fan theories, Lokesh remarked, “Everyone thinks Coolie is sci-fi or time travel… but the truth will surprise you.” The final trailer, just three minutes long, unleashed goosebumps — combining explosive stunts, layered emotions, and a galaxy of stars. It hinted at a Rajinikanth performance unlike anything seen before.With a runtime of 170 minutes, Coolie isn’t just a release — it’s a phenomenon waiting to explode. ##The excitement is further amplified as the film doubles as a diamond jubilee tribute, marking Rajinikanth’s 50 years in Indian cinema.Director Lokesh Kanagaraj and composer Anirudh Ravichander have crafted a special, never-before-seen title card — a cinematic homage to Thalaivar’s golden legacy. This moment is set to resonate with fans across generations, ensuring that Coolie is not only a visual spectacle but also an emotional celebration of an icon’s extraordinary journey. With tributes, action, music, and sheer star power colliding, Coolie promises to be more than just a movie — it’s history, emotion, and celebration rolled into one grand cinematic event. ##A Glance at Coolie’s Pre-Release Collections Across Key Markets ##As of roughly four days before release, Coolie's opening-day pre-sales in India have reached around ₹14 crore gross, with the Tamil version alone contributing approximately ₹13.7 crore, followed by smaller earnings from Hindi, Telugu, and Kannada versions. ##Aggregate advance bookings across India currently stand at ₹20.26 crore. ##BookMyShow reports 706,000 tickets sold across all languages—making it the fourth-highest pre-sales ever for a Tamil film. ##Coolie has already emerged as a North American box office powerhouse before its release, with confirmed advance sales touching USD 1.7 million across the U.S. and Canada. This includes USD 1.447 million from the U.S. alone, generated from over 56,000 tickets sold across 467 locations. ## Coolie has already surged ahead of War 2 in North American pre-sales, establishing a clear lead in the region. With momentum still building, the film is on track to achieve significantly higher opening numbers, positioning it as the stronger box office contender between the two well before release.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, August 11 - There is no stopping Mahavatar Narsimha at the box office as the devotional epic action drama continues to rewrite box office records for an Indian animation film. Directed by Kaleem Productions and Hombale Films, the movie had an excellent third weekend, which saw it cross 200 crores worldwide. ## Directed by Ashwin Kumar, Mahavatar Narsimha is already the highest-grossing Indian animated movie of all time by an uncomparable margin, and now, it has become the highest animated grosser at the Indian box office by beating Disney's The Lion King (2019). ## Directed by Jon Favreau, The Lion King is a photorealistically animated remake of the traditionally animated 1994 film. It grossed over 190+ crores in India in 2019, a record which has now been broken by the first film in the Mahavatar Cinematic Universe. ## The Indian blockbuster has grossed approximately 202 crores (169+ crores net) in India, while its overseas collection is around 213 crores gross in 17 days so far. These numbers are unheard of for an Indian animation, as the second biggest grosser is 2005's Hanuman, which scored around 11 crores gross domestically. ## Mahavatar Narsimha chronicles the Mahaan avatars of Bhagwan Vishnu - Varaha and Narsimha. Varaha, a mighty boar, rescues Bhudevi (Mother Earth) from the Asura Hiranyaksha. After his victory, the story shifts to Hiranyakashipu, Hiranyaksha's brother, who gains a boon, declares himself a god, and oppresses Vishnu’s followers. Prahlad, his son and devoted follower of Vishnu, remains faithful despite his father's threats. To save Prahlad and defeat evil, Vishnu appears as Narsimha, a half-man, half-lion form, who kills Hiranyakashipu while honouring the conditions of the demon's boon from Bhagwan Brahma.## Stay tuned...

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, August 11 - The Independence Day 2025 weekend is set to welcome two of the biggest Indian films - War 2 and Coolie - to ignite the box office. Both films are headlined by some of the biggest stars of the country, especially War 2, which marks a major lead collaboration between North and South India. ## Directed by Ayan Mukerji, the film features Bollywood Greek God Hrithik Roshan, reprising his role as Kabir from the first film, with Telugu superstar Jr. NTR marking his debut in the YRF spy universe as well in Bollywood with this action thriller, and the inside reports are anything to go by, the duo is set to deliver a big blockbuster. ## One of the most reliable Hindi film journalists, Himesh Mankad, shared the inside reports of War 2, and he called it a potential blockbuster and big money spinner for the industry. While the final outcome always depends on what audiences say, Himesh has a good track record in sharing inside reports in recent times. ## Even during the pre-release event of War 2, the team spoke highly about the film, with Jr. NTR calling it one of the greatest Indian films of our time. Hrithik too said that the sequel sits right on top of everything that he has done so far in his career. ## War 2 is the sixth film in the YRF's Spy Universe and a sequel to the 2019 blockbuster War. It also stars Kiara Advani as the female lead alongside Ashutosh Rana and Anil Kapoor in key roles. The movie is scheduled to release on August 14, in Hindi, Telugu, and Tamil, languages in the regular and premium formats, including IMAX and Dolby Cinemas. ## Stay tuned...

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Hyderabad, August 11 - The pre-release event of Yash Raj Films' highly-awaited spy action thriller War 2, starring Hrithik Roshan and Jr. NTR, was held on August 10 in Hyderabad, and it was hugely successful in generating hype for the film. The atmosphere was electric with thousands of fans cheering for the War 2 team. ## The star-studded event was full of high praise for the movie and some bold statements regarding the same. Jr. NTR, Hrithik Roshan, director Ayan Mukerji, and producer S. Naga Vamsi — who took the stage to share memories, gratitude, and promises ahead of the film's release. ## Jr. NTR Lauds Director Ayan Mukerji For The Films, Calls Hrithik "Best Dance of Our Country -## The Telugu superstar, who marks his Bollywood debut with this 2-hero action spectacle, said during the grand event that War 2 is one of the greatest films of our time, and director Ayan Mukerji will be remembered for this film in years to come. ## He also shared what made him do War 2, and he is proud of his choice. "Aditya Chopra (YRF head) relentlessly chased me to do this film. He promised me that my fans will be proud of my role. He's the main reason I accepted this film, and now I think I made the right choice". ## Jr. NTR spoke candidly about the deep admiration he holds for Hrithik Roshan, saying that as a child, he only knew Michael Jackson until he saw Hrithik's powerful dances and performance in Kaho Na Pyaar Hai, "it made me go mad." He added, "Hrithik sir is one of the finest and most impeccable actors and dancers in India. He is the only actor in the country who is dedicated to his craft." ## He also addressed the fan debates comparing their dance skills. "There is no competition between us in that song... It's a song where two dancers appreciate and celebrate each other." He called Hrithik "the greatest dancer in the country," expressing how privileged he felt to share screen space with him and noting they'd worked together for 75 days. ## Hrithik Roshan Calls Jr. NTR a "One-Take Final-Take Star" ## Hrithik began his address in Telugu with a warm greeting, setting an enthusiastic tone for the evening. He then showered praise on Jr. NTR, calling him a "one-take star", a performer who nails every shot perfectly without needing retakes. Hrithik said, "I saw myself in Jr. NTR," emphasising the parallel in their journeys. He elaborated on what he learned from his co-star. ## "Tarak, I have not just observed you, but I have learnt from you. I have learnt how to go into a shot 100% — not 99.99%, not 99.999, but 100%. Which is why when he comes out of a shot, there is no judgment on me. He will not even check the shot because he knows he has given everything to it." ## He added, "Tarak (Jr NTR) and I started as co-stars and we ended up like brothers in real life. I want everyone to give me a promise today. I want you to promise me that you will love my brother the same way forever! Because he deserves it (smiles)." ## Speaking about the movie, the Fighter star said, "War 2 sits right on top of everything that I have done! The love and appreciation I got for playing Kabir in War reminded me of the love I got in Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai, Dhoom 2 and Krrish. I humbly hope that you all enjoy Kabir again. This time, he's even more intense and in a bigger dilemma. Moreover, this time, he's in front of the real tiger himself! Hence, this would be unmissable". ## Ayan Mukerji Refutes Rumours and Keeps the Mystery Alive For War 2 ## The director addressed the hot rumours about Jr. NTR's entry in the film. Without disclosing much, the filmmaker refuted those rumours and said, "We are smart enough not to make a movie where he (Jr. NTR) comes at the interval point in the movie. That much sense we have." This statement confirmed that NTR's entry would be impactful—but not delayed until the halfway mark. He further teased that fans will need to watch the film to experience the exact timing of his appearance. ## The Brahmastra director also spoke about the overall experience of War 2, emphasising that the film is meant to deliver a compelling blend of spectacle and emotion, with key story details held back to preserve audience surprises. "Everyone is in for a real surprise on August 14th. The true soul of the film hasn't been revealed yet," he said. ## Naga Vamsi's Bold Challenge to Fans ## Producer Naga Vamsi of Sithara Entertainments will distribute War 2 in the Telugu states (Andhra Pradesh and Telangana), and he seemed highly confident about the movie and its box office prospects. He emphasised War 2 as a truly Telugu film, urging fans to show even greater support than they did for Devara. "The Telugu version must collect at least one rupee more than the Hindi version's net collection." ## Vamsi then threw a bold challenge and said, "If you don't like War 2, scold me as much as you want. No fan will be disappointed after watching the film. If that happens, I won't ask you to watch another film from me." ## War 2, which also stars Kiara Advani as the female lead alongside Ashutosh Rana and Anil Kapoor, is scheduled to release on August 14 in Hindi, Telugu, and Tamil. ## Stay tuned...

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, August 11 - Superstar Rajinikanth’s gangster action drama Coolie, directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, is aiming to rewrite box office history when it opens worldwide on August 14. Carrying massive pre-release buzz, the film has the potential to take Tamil cinema into uncharted territory — provided it performs strongly in the Hindi market. ## As I reported earlier, Coolie is Kollywood's biggest bet for 1000 crores club entry if it manages to stay strong against Hrithik Roshan and Jr. NTR's War 2, which also releases on August 14. However, things have changed over the last couple of weeks, which might not be good news for Coolie. ## The YRF's spy universe film was supposed to be the only challenge for Coolie in the Hindi market, but there is one more threat, called Mahavatar Narsimha. Produced by Kaleem Productions and presented by Hombale Films, Mahavatar Narsimha is on a record-breaking run, growing stronger with each passing week. Remarkably, its third weekend gross has surpassed its second, which itself outperformed the opening weekend. ## With demand still peaking, the film is set to retain a significant number of screens even during the Independence Day release rush. This poses a major hurdle for Coolie, especially in its opening weekend. War 2 has already secured a massive release across more than 5,000 screens in the Hindi version alone and is expected to maintain them through the extended holiday frame. ## By contrast, Coolie's Hindi-dubbed version will open on fewer than 1,500 screens, making positive word of mouth absolutely crucial. It becomes even more important for Coolie to understand the genuine threat of Mahavatar Narsimha, whose box office carnage has slowed down the pace of YRF's mega blockbuster Saiyaara, which at one stage was looking to cross 400 crores net, but now will fall well below the target. ## For Coolie to stand any chance of doing well at the Hindi box office, it will need unanimous positive word of mouth, and hope it spreads faster. In case of mixed reception, the Rajinikanth starrer will be at a huge risk of losing screens to Mahavatar Narsimha and other holdover titles. The coming week will reveal whether Coolie can overcome these dual challenges and stake its claim among India's all-time biggest box office successes. ## Stay tuned...

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, August 9 - Director Ayan Mukerji has broken his silence on one of the hottest rumours surrounding his upcoming spy action spectacle, War 2, starring Hrithik Roshan and Jr. NTR. Ever since the film was announced, there has been tremendous excitement among fans who have been speculating about how the Telugu superstar will be introduced on screen. ## Over the last few weeks, a rumour has been making the rounds on social media that Jr. NTR would make a grand entry at the interval point only. While this rumour may sound bizarre, it still might have disappointed the fans of the Telugu superstar. But Ayan has some good news for them. ## During the pre-release event of War 2 in Hyderabad on August 10, the director addressed these speculations head-on, dismissing the theory with a witty remark. "We are smart enough not to make a movie where he (Jr. NTR) comes at the interval point in the movie. That much sense we have", hinting that the audience won't have to wait until the halfway mark to see the RRR star in action. ## Ayan then presses on, saying that to know where NTR would make an entry and everything else, the audience has to see the film and discover it. The statement has sent fans into a frenzy, sparking fresh theories about NTR's role in the film. ## Mukerji, known for his meticulous storytelling and flair for blending emotion with spectacle, has promised that War 2 will offer a unique experience in the YRF Spy Universe. He also revealed that they haven't revealed the story intentionally, and everyone is in for a real surprise on August 14, as the true soul of the film hasn't been revealed yet. ## With Hrithik reprising his role as super-spy Kabir, who went rogue, and Jr. NTR playing a special unit officer who has been asked to hunt down Kabir. The film is already being touted as one of the biggest cinematic events of 2025. Produced by Aditya Chopra under Yash Raj Films, War 2 stars Kiara Advani as the female lead and is slated to release worldwide on August 14, 2025, in Hindi, Telugu, and Tamil, just in time for the Independence Day weekend. ## Stay tuned...

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, August 9 - In a landmark moment for Indian cinema, Kaleem Productions and Hombale Films' Mahavatar Narsimha has officially crossed the 100 crore net mark in Hindi after an extraordinary surge on its third Saturday (Day 16). ## The devotional action epic, directed by Ashwin Kumar, continues to defy all expectations, proving that animated films can command mass appeal and theatrical dominance in India. On its 16th day, the film is looking to score 14-16 crores net in Hindi, which takes its total Hindi collection to around 107 crores net. ## With this, Mahavatar Narsimha has become the first ever animated movie (including The Lion King, and Mufasa: The Lion King) to score 100 crores net in a single language in India. The film witnessed a phenomenal jump of around 200% in collections on Day 16 in Hindi, driven by strong family turnout, word-of-mouth appreciation, and repeat viewership.## Overall, the film grossed over 20 crores in India on its third Saturday, which takes its total collection to 170+ crores gross (140+ crores net) in 16 days. The movie will enter the 200 crores gross club by the third Sunday (most likely) and become the first ever animated film to do so. ## With its visually stunning animation, compelling retelling of the Narasimha avatar legend, and powerful music score, the film has resonated strongly with audiences across demographics. The upcoming Independence Day holiday week is expected to further boost collections. ## Stay tuned...

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, August 9 - Yash Raj Films is once again showing its distribution power as the studio's most-anticipated film War 2, starring Hrithik Roshan and Jr. NTR, is set for one of the widest releases in Hindi across the country on August 14. ## Directed by Ayan Mukerji, War 2 is clashing with Rajinikanth's Coolie on the same day; however, the latter will get minimal screens in North India, according to the latest report by Pinkvilla. The report says that the Hindi version of War 2 is set to release on 5000 screens in India, which includes the limited release in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Pondicherry. ## In the fight for the single screens, Yash Raj Films is said to have locked 90% of the single screens across the country for the Hindi version, while Coolie is left with just 10%. In multiplexes, War 2 will get 80-85% screens, while the remaining will be shared by other films. ## "The makers are all set to bring it on 5000 plus screens in Hindi, including an exclusive release across premium formats in IMAX, 4DX, ICE, and Dolby Cinema, making it one of the widest releases of all time. The North Indian market will be dominated by War 2 as far as the showcasing schedule is concerned, and the exhibitors too are willingly in favour of the Ayan Mukerji directorial", says the report. ## Meanwhile, the advance booking of War 2 will commence on August 10 in Hindi, while Telugu and Tamil versions will open bookings on August 11. In Telugu states (Andhra Pradesh and Telangana), the bookings for the Hindi version will open on August 11, after receiving permission for the ticket price hikes. ## As said, the bookings for War 2 are expected to open with a bang, as trade is expecting it to take one of the biggest openings for a Hindi title. The film is scheduled to release on August 14, during the Independence Day weekend in Hindi, Telugu, and Tamil. ## Stay tuned...

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Chennai, August 9 – Superstar Rajinikanth's much-awaited gangster action drama Coolie, directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, is having sensational advance booking collection for the first day worldwide, and is proving to be an unstoppable force at the box office even before its release. ## The film has been going great guns in the international markets, and is on course to score the biggest opening for a Tamil title. As I type this, it has grossed approximately 37+ crores pre-sales collection for the opening day (including premieres) internationally, and is heading towards the 50 crores mark sooner than expected. ## While the overseas market has been the driving force so far, it was a matter of time before the pre-sales opened in India to get a blockbuster response, and that's what happened when tickets went live on August 8. Within no time, the movie sold over 100K tickets, and has been unstoppable since then.## Currently, the booking for the first day stands at around 14 crore gross in the domestic market, with strong numbers coming in from Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The worldwide pre-sales for the opening day are 51+ crores. The momentum is expected to accelerate as the Independence Day weekend approaches, especially once multiplex chains and more centres open full-fledged bookings. ## The trend indicates that Coolie can go o to score 100+ crores pre-sales gross for the first day. Given the current trend, Coolie is well on track to deliver one of the biggest worldwide openings ever for an Indian film, with trade circles predicting a possible record-breaking day one for Tamil cinema. ## (Note - Some data in the Sacnilk advance booking report is missing) ## Stay tuned...

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Hyderabad, August 9 - Maverick director SS Rajamouli finally revealed that the first look teaser of his next film with superstar Mahesh Babu will be revealed in November 2025. He promised that the audience around the globe is in for a treat, as it will be a never-before-seen reveal. Now, according to the latest report by Peepingmoon.com, the film has reportedly been titled Gen 63. A name that is taken from the character of Mahesh Babu, who plays a man from the 63rd generation of a revered lineage, embarking on a quest for rare and powerful artefacts. The report further revealed that the movie is deeply rooted in the epic Ramayana, with science fiction elements. It is reportedly set in the ancient holy city of Kashi, which is revered for its historical and cultural significance. Mahesh Babu will reportedly don multiple looks that reflect his character's evolution, while Priyanka Chopra, who plays the female lead, is said to be playing an intrepid explorer. Malayalam star Prithviraj Sukumaran plays the role of the antagonist in this globe-trotting film. The shoot of Gen 63 is expected to be wrapped by the summer of 2026, and the makers are reportedly eyeing for 2027 release in multiple Indian and international languages. Stay tuned...

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Hyderabad, August 9 - The world is waiting to see what director SS Rajamouli is cooking with his next film, which stars superstar Mahesh Babu along with Priyanka Chopra and Prithviraj Sukumaran, and the wait is going to end soon. ## On Saturday (August 9), the maverick filmmaker finally provided an update and revealed that a never-before-seen first look at his next film will be revealed in November 2025. The Baahubali filmmaker describes the film as a globe-trotter and also shared a pre-look first poster. ## The filmmaker shared a statement, thanking fans for their patience and assured them that they are in store for something very special. "Dear Cinema Lovers in India and around the world, as well as fans of Mahesh, it has been a while since we began shooting, and we appreciate your eagerness to know about the film", Rajamouli said. ## He continued, "However, the story and scope of this film are so vast that I feel mere pictures or press conferences cannot do it justice. We are currently working on something to showcase the essence, depth, and immersive world we are creating. This will be unveiled in November 2025, and we are trying to make it a NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN reveal. Thank you all for your patience". ## While the plot details of the movie, tentatively called SSMB29, have been kept under wraps, Rajamouli's words hint at a grand, ambitious cinematic experience, in line with his reputation for crafting large-scale, visually stunning spectacles. As reported earlier, the movie is a jungle-based adventure with award award-winning cast and crew attached to it. ## MASSIVE DEVELOPMENT... SS RAJAMOULI - MAHESH BABU FILM: FIRST "NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN REVEAL" IN NOVEMBER 2025 – OFFICIAL STATEMENT + POSTER...#GlobeTrotter pic.twitter.com/yCIBYyN5lY— taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) August 9, 2025 ## Stay tuned...

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, August 9 - Bollywood action star Tiger Shroff is set to return on the big screen with producer Sajid Nadiadwala's action thriller Baaghi 4. The movie is scheduled to release on September 5, and the first official teaser is set to be dropped on August 11. ## Directed by A Harsha, Baaghi 4 teaser has been consored with 'A' rating by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) with an approved runtime of 1 minute and 53 seconds. This marks the first film of the franchise to get an adult rating, clearly hinting at the darker tone and the most brutal chapter of the series so far. ## Baaghi 4 stars Tiger Shroff, who returns to reprise the role of Ranveer "Ronny" Pratap Singh. However, the movie has nothing to do with the previous films. Sanjay Dutt has been cast to play the antagonist role, while Sonam Bajwa and Harnaaz Kaur Sandhu play the female lead roles. ## The first movie in the Baaghi series was released in 2016. It starred Tiger along with Shraddha Kapoor. After the success, the makers went ahead with its sequel in 2018, with Disha Patani replacing Shraddha. Baaghi 3 brought back Shraddha, and Disha was seen in a special song. ## ## Stay tuned...