Kairam Vaashi reviews Thandel, Chandoo Mondeti’s film inspired by the 2018 real-life incident when 22 Indian fishermen were detained by the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency. While the premise sets the stage for a gripping human drama, the film blends love, heroism, and patriotism—elements that don’t always land convincingly.
Naga Chaitanya plays Raju Thandel, a fisherman whose long absences at sea strain his relationship with Satya, played by Sai Pallavi. Their love story is heartfelt and seamlessly woven into the narrative, but Raju’s heroism often feels generic, and the Karachi jail sequences push the film toward implausibility. The struggles of a fisherman’s life are touched upon, but the emotional depth remains inconsistent. Sai Pallavi’s performance, along with Devi Sri Prasad’s music, offers the film’s most compelling moments.
Despite its promising setup, Thandel falters in execution, with uneven writing and exaggerated dramatization. While the Telugu dialect and visuals add authenticity, the film never fully realizes its emotional potential. In the storm of forced patriotism, it’s Satya’s presence that truly shines.
