Thandel Review, Rating

Story Overview

Thandel is based on the real-life story of a fisherman who gets lost at sea, is captured by the Pakistani police, and eventually returns to India. However, at its heart, the film is about the love story between Satya (Sai Pallavi) and Raju (Naga Chaitanya). The emotional core revolves around how this life-changing event affects their relationship and whether their love can withstand the struggles.

Performances

Naga Chaitanya delivers a surprisingly strong performance as Raju. He has improved visually and emotionally, making this one of his better roles. His portrayal feels natural, and he avoids overacting, which adds authenticity to the character. Whether the film itself is memorable or not, Chaitanya’s performance will be a standout in his career.

Sai Pallavi plays Satya effortlessly, but her role doesn’t offer anything new. While she performs well, the character feels predictable since we have seen her in similar roles before. That said, she does justice to the emotional beats required of her.

Analysis

First Half:
Director Chandoo Mondeti starts the film well, setting up a believable love story with an authentic village atmosphere. The songs "Hilesso Hilessa" and "Shiva Shiva" add to the emotional depth. However, the transition to "Namo Namah Shivaya" lacks proper buildup, reducing its potential impact.

Despite a slow pace, the engaging dialogues and chemistry between Chaitanya and Pallavi keep things interesting. The train station scene, the well-written conversations, and the interval twist ensure a decent first half that lays a strong foundation for the emotional drama ahead.

Second Half:
Instead of deepening the emotional conflict between Satya and Raju, the film unexpectedly shifts focus to patriotism and political themes. Raju's time in a Pakistani jail takes over the story, introducing unnecessary conflicts and a forced villain. The India-Pakistan angle feels clichéd and does not add much value.

Sai Pallavi’s "Aazaadi protest" and media attention feel unrealistic and almost comical. Her emotional struggle is underdeveloped, making it hard for the audience to connect with her pain. The climax, instead of delivering a strong emotional payoff, relies on convenient storytelling, weakening the impact of the overall narrative.

Technical Aspects

Music (Devi Sri Prasad): One of the film’s biggest strengths. DSP’s background score and songs perfectly capture the mood and enhance the emotions.

Cinematography (Shamdat): The visuals are consistently good, bringing out the rustic feel of the setting beautifully.

Editing (Navin Nooli): The second half feels stretched, making the film seem longer than it should be.

Production (Geetha Arts): High-quality production values despite a minimalistic setting.

Positives

✔️ Naga Chaitanya’s strong performance
✔️ Sai Pallavi’s effortless acting
✔️ Visually appealing cinematography
✔️ DSP’s music and background score

Negatives

❌ Weak direction
❌ Lack of emotional depth
❌ Predictable storytelling with forced cinematic elements
❌ Wagah Border Episode Dragged and Climax feels rushed and unconvincing

Final Verdict

Thandel starts off well with a strong love story and good performances but loses its way in the second half by focusing too much on a forced patriotic angle. While Naga Chaitanya’s performance and DSP’s music stand out, the film overall fails to leave a lasting emotional impact. Watch it for the performances and music, but lower your expectations for a deeply moving experience.

Rating: 3/5

Also read: Thandel Twitter Review: A Mixed Bag of Emotions