From Fan to Filmmaker: Chandhru Anbazhagan Pens Vintage Rajini Magic in Coolie

You worked with Lokesh Kanagaraj on his debut Maanagaram as co-director and co-writer, and now again on Coolie. What’s your camaraderie like?

Yeah… I worked with Lokesh on his debut film Maanagaram as a co-director and co-writer (dialogues and screenplay). Basically, we’ve all been friends since our short film days, and that’s where our journey together began. After Maanagaram, I’ve now joined hands with Lokesh again for Coolie, starring Superstar Rajinikanth, with a mammoth cast featuring Aamir Khan sir, Sathyaraj sir, Nagarjuna sir, Upendra sir, Soubin sir, Shruti Haasan, and music by Rockstar Anirudh. It has been a beautiful memory and an unforgettable experience. When it comes to camaraderie, Lokesh is always humble and grounded with everyone. One of his biggest strengths is that he believes in himself deeply — and in others just as much. We are friends, yes, but he also knows the true potential of each technician. Once he commits to a team, he trusts them completely. That’s one of his best qualities.

Do you feel lucky to have replaced the earlier writer Rathna on Coolie? How did that happen, and was Rajini sir already on board when you started writing?

Actually, Rathna was already committed to directing his own project, so Lokesh approached me to join the writing team for his next film. At that time, I was also planning to start my own debut project. But when Lokesh narrated the earlier idea and mentioned that Rajini sir would be playing the lead, I was instantly excited and said yes. I decided I would first work on Coolie and then focus on my debut—because I’ve been a hardcore fan of Rajini sir since childhood. We both had a clear vision: to bring back the vintage Rajini performance, style, and swag for this generation. We worked on crafting an engaging screenplay—something that would echo the energy of Maanagaram, but celebrate peak-time Rajini sir in a way that fans can enjoy and celebrate in this movie too in theatres. I genuinely hope audiences will feel that same excitement and magic we grew up with.

Writing for Rajini dialogues and screenplay which is the backbone of the film were you nervous?

When you're writing for a legend like Rajini sir, how can you not feel the pressure? His screen presence is unmatched, and his dialogues have always carried a certain weight, rhythm, and charisma. Right from day one, I knew that the screenplay and dialogues would be the backbone of Coolie, and that responsibility felt massive.

But more than nervousness, I felt a deep sense of respect and responsibility. I’ve admired Rajini sir since childhood—his timing, his mass appeal, and the way he connects with people on screen. So, when I sat down to write, I approached it first as a writer. Lokesh and I developed the scenes together, structured the screenplay carefully—and only then did I allow the fan in me to take over.

I asked myself: What would I love to see him do again on screen? What would make fans whistle, clap, and celebrate in theatres? Throughout the process, I had Lokesh’s full support. We both wanted to bring back the vintage Rajini sir—but with a fresh, exciting treatment that fits Lokesh's world. That clarity really helped me focus. Yes, the pressure was there... but it pushed me to give my best.In the end, all I wanted was to make sure every line, every moment on screen does justice to Rajini sir’s legacy while also carrying the stamp of Lokesh’s storytelling style. I hope we’ve managed to balance both.

Rajini sir was very happy with the script. After Lokesh narrated it to him, he smiled and said, “Sooper... sooper... fantastic... kalakitinga!” I was standing just behind Lokesh at sir’s home when he said that — and for me, as both a writer and a fan, that moment was the biggest reward. He truly loved how we blended mass moments with a tight, engaging screenplay. Lokesh was very clear right from the beginning about what kind of film he wanted to make. He constantly pushed all of us to rise to that vision — and he appreciated how hard we worked to match both his expectations and Rajini sir’s legacy.

As Lokesh mentioned in his recent interview, Coolie is not a time-travel film. But yes... there are lots of surprises. I don’t want to spoil anything now, but I can say this: the film is rooted in emotion, style, and vintage Rajini moments — all presented in a fresh, gripping way that today’s audiences will connect with. It’s massive, but it’s also smart. And above all, it brings out all the shades of Rajini sir we’ve loved over the decades — in a way we haven’t seen in recent times.

Were you on the sets? How was your experience working with Rajini sir?

Yes, I was on the sets — and honestly, it was surreal. Watching Rajini sir perform scenes we had written was an emotional high every single time. He brings a kind of energy, aura, and sharpness to the screen that’s impossible to explain in words.When I was on set, my eyes were always on him instead of the monitor — because the output on screen I can watch anytime… but watching him live, in the moment, was something else. I was keenly observing how he receives the lines, processes them internally, and finally delivers them in front of the camera. That transformation is pure magic.

What struck me most was his discipline and humility. He never treated anyone differently — from a technician to a writer, he made everyone feel respected and valued. During one particular scene, after finishing a powerful shot, he turned around and gave a small smile, as if saying, “Did you like that?” — and that one gesture made my day.Being on set, watching Rajini sir in action, and seeing Lokesh bring the vision to life — it wasn’t just work, it was a dream coming true. As a writer, a fan, and a collaborator, I felt grateful every single moment.

Will you also get a chance to direct in Lokesh production?

As of now, there’s no such plan. I’m already in talks with a few other production houses for my directorial debut, and Lokesh is well aware of that. So we haven’t really discussed anything in that direction yet.But yes, we’ve discussed some other exciting ideas together. Maybe in the future, it might happen. Let’s see.

While writing the script and screenplay for Coolie, what were the basic criteria you kept in mind? Did you have to change certain lines on the sets?

While writing Coolie, the primary focus was to stay true to the world Lokesh envisioned and to ensure that the film carried the energy and mass appeal that fans expect — especially with a star like Rajini sir. At the same time, we wanted depth, strong character moments, and a grounded emotional arc. Every line, beat, and scene was crafted with a balance of commercial appeal and emotional weight.As for changes on set — yes, that’s quite natural. Some lines evolve when you see them in action. Lokesh is someone who gives space for spontaneity.

Not really. With Coolie, the creative energy was very collaborative. Lokesh had a very clear vision, and I was brought in to align with that and strengthen it through the writing. He gives a lot of freedom — but at the same time, he knows exactly what he wants, which makes the process very focused. At the end of the day, we wanted the same thing — to make a powerful film that connects with the audience. So, if there were any discussions or debates, they were always in the interest of making the film better.

I think the core emotion in Coolie is universal — it’s about dignity, rage, and power. So my hope is that it connects beyond language and region, especially in the North belt where Rajini sir already has a strong fan base. For the North, we have the massive performer and a great star, Mr. Aamir Khan. His avatar in this film is something the North has never seen before. In fact, during the shoot itself, Mr. Aamir Khan told us, “This is new not just for me, but for the entire Indian audience.” That kind of excitement coming from him says a lot — and we can’t wait for people to experience it.

Alongside that, there’s rockstar Anirudh, already well known for his work in Jawan, and Lokesh’s storytelling style which audiences have loved right from his earlier films — both will play a big role in how North audiences connect to Coolie.

Also, you and Lokesh and others seem to belong to the same ‘camp’.
As for the “camp” — I don’t really see it that way. Yes, we share a certain creative wavelength and there’s mutual trust within this team. But I’m definitely open to working outside. Good stories and strong collaborations can come from anywhere. If I vibe with the vision, I’m in.