Chennai is buzzing with excitement as fans celebrate the release of Rajinikanth's new film, "Coolie," and mark his 50th year in cinema. The fervor is palpable, with celebrations erupting across the city.

Die-hard Rajinikanth fans are pulling out all the stops to celebrate "Coolie". At Chennai's Rohini Theatre, fans broke coconuts and used drones to shower flower petals on a poster of the veteran actor. Celebrations began early in the morning, with fans queuing outside theaters. Some fans were seen performing rituals in temples, praying for the film's success. Across Tamil Nadu, about 980 of the 1,100 screens are showing "Coolie". Massive celebrations are planned outside prominent cinemas like Kasi in Chennai, with a helicopter showering flower petals over crowds at Rohini Cineplex.

The release of "Coolie" coincides with Rajinikanth's golden jubilee in cinema. Rajinikanth first appeared on screen in K. Balachander's "Apoorva Raagangal," released on August 15, 1975. In the five decades since, Rajinikanth has acted in over 165 films across various languages. Messages of congratulations have been pouring in from the film industry and political figures. TNCC President K. Selvaperunthagai lauded Rajinikanth's dedication, hard work, integrity, and simplicity, calling him a role model.

"Coolie," directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, has a star-studded cast including Rajinikanth, Nagarjuna Akkineni, Soubin Shahir, Upendra, Sathyaraj, and Aamir Khan, and features Shruti Haasan and Pooja Hegde. Anirudh Ravichander's soundtrack has already generated buzz. Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin congratulated Rajinikanth on his 50 years in the film industry after getting an early glimpse of "Coolie". Kamal Haasan also wished "Coolie" resounding global success.

The craze for "Coolie" has led to unprecedented advance bookings. In Chennai, some tickets were sold for as high as ₹4,500. Some fans are traveling to neighboring states to watch early morning shows, as Tamil Nadu does not permit them. Theaters are turning into concert halls, with fans dancing and celebrating.

Rajinikanth's journey from a bus conductor to a superstar is inspiring. His life story is part of the CBSE school syllabus in India. Rajinikanth has embraced new technology in his films, including 70mm widescreen format in "Maveeran" and motion capture technology in "Kochadaiiyaan".

Rajinikanth's influence extends beyond cinema through his humility and philanthropic efforts. Fans refer to him as "Thalaivar" (The Leader), and his popularity transcends age, region, and language. Rajinikanth has played various roles, from villains to heroes, and has always embraced the changing times. In recent years, he has portrayed characters with flaws, such as in "Darbar," "Vettaiyan," and "Jailer".