Lokesh Kanagaraj might have done fewer films than his contemporaries, but he has cracked the code to deliver massy and commercial thrillers with the biggest superstars in the Tamil cinema industry. With a clean box office record, he has his own LCU (Lokesh Cinematic Universe), a first for any Tamil filmmaker. His next, Coolie, is just a month away from its grand theatrical release across 2D and IMAX formats. Ever since Lokesh started his directorial career, he has delivered films that connect with the masses, and positive word of mouth reflects at the box office. The director has focused on treating the audience to the noir action genre. His films do have a connecting thread. Ahead of Coolie, let’s revisit five movies directed by Lokesh. Maanagaram Maanagaram was Lokesh’s directorial debut. It released in 2017. The film is about four people who move to Chennai to begin their careers. Their lives turn 360 degrees when a gangster threatens them. The four people unite to defeat him. Maanagaram was remade in Hindi as Mumbaikar in 2023. The Tamil film stars Sri Natarajan, Sundeep Kishan, and Regina Cassandra. Kaithi Dilli, a recently released prisoner who is desperate to meet his daughter, has to join the cops to bust a drug cartel. Karthi plays the lead role. Narain, Arjun Das, Harish Uthaman, George Maryan and Dheena are cast for other key characters. The success of Kaithi gave birth to the Lokesh Cinematic Universe. The Tamil film was remade in Hindi as Bholaa starring Ajay Devgn and Tabu. It couldn’t replicate the success of the original. Master When the film industry was recovering from the COVID-19 lockdown losses, Master, starring Thalapathy Vijay and Vijay Sethupathi, was a step towards reviving the theatrical business. Despite restrictions, it became one of the highest-grossing Tamil films of all time and became the third-highest-grossing Indian film in 2021. Vikram In his first-ever collaboration with Kamal Haasan and Fahadh Faasil, Lokesh served an actioner thriller that raised the bar high. Vikram, the second film of the Lokesh Cinematic Universe, is about a special agent who investigates a murder committed by a masked group of serial killers. The investigation leads him to the drug kingpin of Chennai. The film also stars Vijay Sethupathi. Leo The third installment of the Lokesh Cinematic Universe, Leo, with Thalapathy Vijay, was successful at the box office but was called the ‘weakest film’ by the director. In the movie, the character named Parthiban is chased by gangsters after he comes in the middle of a drug racket. After Coolie, which also stars Nagarjuna, Upendra, Soubin Shahir, Sathyaraj, Shruti Haasan, Reba Monica John, Junior MGR and Monisha Blessy, along with Aamir Khan’s cameo, Lokesh will be working on a couple of projects. He will be teaming up with Aamir for a feature film. Besides that, the next part of the LCU, Benz, is already on floors. Though Lokesh isn’t directing it, the story is his. Benz stars Raghava Lawrence, Nivin Pauly and Samyuktha.