Rajinikanth's upcoming film Coolie has found itself embroiled in a plagiarism controversy following the release of its posters. Social media users have drawn comparisons between the Coolie posters and promotional materials from several Hollywood films, including Madame Web, Glass, and Rebel Moon, sparking a debate about originality and inspiration.
The contested Coolie poster features Rajinikanth as his character Deva, standing atop an inclined plane. Behind him, actors like Nagarjuna, Aamir Khan, Shruti Haasan, Upendra, Soubin Shahir, and Sathyaraj are visible through what appears to be a shattered-glass motif. Their faces are fragmented and interwoven within sharp, jagged shards, creating a mosaic-like effect enhanced by high-contrast lighting and dark tones.
Netizens were quick to point out the similarities between the Coolie poster and those of Madame Web, Glass, and Rebel Moon, all of which depict characters through shards of fragmented or broken glass. The resemblance has led to criticism and accusations of blatant copying, with some users expressing disappointment over the perceived lack of originality. One user wrote, "So basically, 3 out of the 4 posters recently released by the Coolie team are copied from somewhere else". Another commented, "Typical Copycat," while others questioned whether "something original" could ever be produced.
Some have defended the poster's aesthetic, praising its bold and stylized design. However, many believe it relies too heavily on Western promotional tropes. The controversy has generated a wave of negativity, overshadowing the film's intended promotions. It remains unclear whether the similarities were intentional.
This isn't the first time a Lokesh Kanagaraj film has faced such scrutiny. His previous work, Leo, also drew criticism for allegedly taking inspiration from a Hollywood film. Some fans are now concerned that if the posters are unoriginal, the film's plot and screenplay might suffer the same fate.
The makers of Coolie have yet to address the plagiarism allegations. It is unknown if this controversy will impact the film's box office performance. Despite the backlash, anticipation remains high for Coolie, which is scheduled to be released on August 14, 2025. The film is directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj and produced by Kalanithi Maran under Sun Pictures. It stars Rajinikanth as Deva, along with Nagarjuna, Sathyaraj, Upendra, Shruti Haasan, and Soubin Shahir. Aamir Khan makes a cameo appearance as Dahaa. The film is slated to release in Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, and Kannada.
