Rajinikanth's "Coolie" Breaks Records with ₹151 Crore Opening Day

Rajinikanth's "Coolie" has earned over ₹151 crore worldwide on its first day, setting the record as the highest Tamil film to do so. Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, the film features a star-studded cast, including Soubin Shahir, Upendra, and Aamir Khan in a special appearance. Backed by Sun Pictures, the film is Rajinikanth's 171st lead role and his first collaboration with Kanagaraj.

Rajinikanth's "Coolie," directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, has earned over ₹151 crore worldwide on its first day, setting a new record as the highest Tamil film to do so. The film features a star-studded cast, including Soubin Shahir, Upendra, and Aamir Khan in a special appearance. Backed by Sun Pictures, "Coolie" is Rajinikanth's 171st lead role and his first collaboration with Kanagaraj.

The film's impressive opening day figures include a domestic collection of ₹65 crore, according to industry tracker Sacnilk [1]. Internationally, the film has grossed an estimated USD 2.9 million, propelling it to become the 9th biggest Tamil grosser ever in North America [3]. Additionally, "Coolie" has set a new record in US premiere advance sales, crossing the USD 2 million mark [4].

The film's success can be attributed to Rajinikanth's massive fan following and the high-profile pairing of the superstar with Lokesh Kanagaraj. The collaboration between Rajinikanth and Kanagaraj had already generated a significant level of anticipation, translating into massive advance bookings [4].

The film's strong performance is particularly notable considering the release of another big film, Ayan Mukerji's "War 2," on the same day. Despite mixed reviews, "War 2" collected ₹52 crore by the end of its opening day [1]. However, "Coolie" has managed to outperform "War 2" and several other films, including Rajinikanth's previous films like "Vettaiyan" and "Petta" [1].

The film's occupancy rates remained strong throughout the day, with an average of 86.99% [1]. The Tamil audience has been particularly generous, with over ₹40 crore share coming from the regional language [2]. The film's success in Chennai theatres has been complemented by strong performances in other cities like Trichy, Pondicherry, and Coimbatore [2].

The film's success is not just a testament to Rajinikanth's box office dominance but also to the growing international appeal of Tamil cinema. As the film continues its theatrical run, it will be interesting to see whether it can maintain its momentum and challenge the top five Tamil grossers in the market.

References:
[1] https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/coolie-box-office-collection-day-1-rajinikanth-lokesh-kanagaraj-bigges-opening-career-65-crore-10190430/
[2] https://www.financialexpress.com/life/entertainment-coolie-box-office-collection-day-2-rajinikanth-starrer-roars-in-cinemas-as-film-nears-rs-80-crore-mark-3947338/
[3] https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/box-office/rajnikanths-coolie-beats-kamal-haasans-vikram-to-become-9th-biggest-tamil-film-in-north-america-with-just-premiere-day-numbers/articleshow/123295904.cms
[4] https://www.financialexpress.com/life/entertainment-rajinikanth-smashes-another-record-coolie-becomes-first-tamil-film-to-cross-usd-2-million-in-us-advance-booking-3944973/