This Independence Day weekend, Rajinikanth’s most recent movie, Coolie, opened in theaters, sparking an extraordinary celebration both domestically and internationally. The movie, which commemorates the superstar’s 50th year in theaters, has prompted businesses to announce holiday, halt operations, and even purchase tickers for staff members.
In Madurai, Uno Aqua Care announced a holiday on Coolie’s release day to avoid a flood of leave requests. The holiday covers all branches, including Chennai, Bangalore, Trichy, Tirunelveli, Chengalpattu, Mattuthavani, and Arapalayam.
The company also booked free tickets for employees and pledged to donate food to an old-age home and an orphanage in honour of Rajinikanth’s milestone.
DigiNad joined the celebrations with CEO ThangaVel Puhal announcing a holiday on the release day via LinkedIn.
Rajini Mania Spreads Abroad
The celebrations are not limited to India. In Singapore, Farmer Constructions PTE LTD declared a paid holiday for its Tamil workforce, gifted them Coolie tickets, and gave each SGD 30 for expenses.
Convenience store chain SB Mart PTE LTD announced it would shut down between 7:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. on release day so staff could watch the movie. “Business will resume as usual from 11.30 am onwards. Sorry for the inconvenience caused,” wrote director Krishan Prakash Nambiar.
In Dubai, San Global declared a special holiday from August 14 to 17 across its Chennai, Pune, and Dubai branches. CEO Swaroop Krishnan said, “Let’s honour Thalaivar’s legendary journey, enjoy the festivities, and return recharged!”
Several brands have launched promotional campaigns tied to Coolie. Electronics retailer Vasanth & Co is running a social media contest offering movie tickets to lucky winners who follow the page and answer Rajinikanth trivia.
Coolie at the Box Office
Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, Coolie features a star-studded cast including Nagarjuna, Sathyaraj, Aamir Khan, Upendra, Soubin Shahir, and Shruti Haasan. Despite its ‘A’ certification, anticipation is sky-high.
The film faces a box office clash with Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR’s War 2 on August 14. However, Coolie’s advance bookings have already smashed records.
According to India Today, domestic advance ticket sales have crossed ₹5.55 crore excluding block seats. With block seats included, the figure rises to ₹10.27 crore.
In overseas markets, Coolie has recorded advance ticket sales worth over ₹37 crore for opening day. Industry experts predict the film could easily cross ₹100 crore worldwide on its first day.
MUST READ: Coolie vs War 2: Rajinikanth’s 50th Film Sparks India’s Biggest Box Office Clash
