Feb 07, 2025 05:03 PM
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Thandel is the latest romantic action film starring Naga Chaitanya and Sai Pallavi in the lead roles. Chandoo Mondeti directed it, and it attempts to blend patriotism with a classic love tale. The film created a lot of buzz before its release and is going strong in the theatres. Does it deliver? Well, Thandel definitely has moments that shine, largely due to the lead performances and Devi Sri Prasad's fantastic music. However, it also stumbles with pacing and a somewhat stretched second half.
Thandel tells the story of Raju(Naga Chaitanya), a fisherman, and his fiancée, Sathya(Sai Pallavi). Sathya is constantly worried about Raju's dangerous profession and wants him to quit fishing after they get married. However, during what is supposed to be one of Raju's last fishing trips, he and his team accidentally cross into Pakistani waters. Accusations lead to capture from Pakistani forces, while they are imprisoned. The rest of the movie is about Sathya's determined efforts to get Raju released from the Pakistani jail. The film takes real-life events like Article 370 and tensions between India and Pakistan into its storyline.
The film had several standout moments, especially Naga Chaitanya’s acting and emotional delivery. The on-screen chemistry between the two lead roles also gives us some heartwarming scenes in the first half and towards the end. Sai Pallavi is perfectly cast as Satya. She expresses love and other emotions through her eyes, which is a treat to watch. I also loved the dance moves between Sai Pallavi and Naga Chaitanya in the song'Namo Namah Shivaya'. The film has an authentic setting that creates a good atmosphere. The first half of Thandel is decent. It focuses on Satya and Raju's love and struggles. Chaitanya shows visible improvement with his mature and subtle acting. The film showed potential for a gripping second half.
However, things start to go south in the second half. The narrative loses its focus and the director seems unsure of how to pace the story. The film lacks a strong emotional connection. It needed a tighter screenplay to sustain the audience’s attention. What I got was a few well-executed sequences along with many dragged sequences without proper emotional connection. After building a decent foundation for a genuine love story and emotion, the second half does not cash in on these emotions but rather prioritizes a patriotic angle. The love angle takes a back seat. Many scenes feel patchy, and the second half, in particular, suffers from noticeable lag, making it feel almost like a three-hour-long film.
If you are planning to watch this in the theaters, be ready for a slow second half. The climax did not feel satisfactory, as I had completely lost track of the storyline. The film picks up momentum with an impressive interval sequence and a plot twist in the beginning. I loved how the first half was very thoughtful, and both lead roles played their parts beautifully It is a decent film to watch in theaters. You can watch Thandel for the performances and the music. I love watching Telugu cinema for their superb acting and cinematography, and Thandel does not disappoint here!
