Review by Raksha Bhattacharjee
Review of Thandel: The film by Chandoo Mondeti, which stars Naga Chaitanya and Sai Pallavi, is a mixed bag, but the love tale is unquestionably good.
Review of Thandel:
There hasn’t been a heartwarming love story from Tollywood in a long time. While Chandoo Mondeti’s film Thandel, starring Naga Chaitanya and Sai Pallavi, is a mixed bag, its love tale is unquestionable. The movie has a strong beginning, stutters, then thankfully gets back on track.
Thandel story
The story of Thandel As young lovers, Raju (Chaitanya) and his bujji thalli (loved one), Satya (Pallavi), hope to spend the rest of their lives together. The only problem? Raju spends nine months of the year fishing in Gujarat, even though they are from Matchilesam, which is close to Srikakulam in Andhra Pradesh.
Raju and Satya make every moment matter by placing a flag at the lighthouse to indicate his absence, making infrequent phone conversations full of longing, and dozing off in each other’s arms when he does get home. But they are in danger of being torn apart by a failed fishing excursion and a broken promise.
Thandel’s evaluation
Thandel is based on an actual event in which 22 fishermen from Vizianagaram and Srikakulam were imprisoned in Pakistan for 13 months after inadvertently entering their waters. For the film to succeed, Chandoo takes the occurrence and injects it with a dash of nationalism and a dash of romance.
When Thandel concentrates on the love between the main couple, it succeeds; but, when it shifts to the fishermen’s stay at Karachi Central Jail, it falls short. “Where drama begins, logic ends” is what the title card says at the start of the movie. The director delivers on it as well.
Naga Chaitanya performance
What Naga Chaitanya did Chaitanya has the opportunity to fully immerse himself in the role of Thandel, the film’s title character and the captain of the ship. His dark skin, untamed hair, beard, and other features not only make him look the part, but he also adds a vulnerable element.
One moment in particular, near the climax of the movie, shows Raju learning something devastating. He chooses to do what must be done, cries uncontrollably, and grabs his chest—all of which Chaitanya makes convincing. Even in the worse moments of the movie, his performance is what keeps you interested. Additionally, Devi Sri Prasad’s music—especially the song Bujji Thalli—helps him along the road.
What does not function
It’s funny how Chaitanya excels where Pallavi struggles. Her expressions of happiness are excessive in instances where he makes his need for his beloved seem real. She nearly sounds like a manic pixie dream girl because of how melodramatic she is right away.
Fortunately, she delivers what audiences have come to expect from her performance after the tale settles into a rhythm. Scenes of Raju and his troops fighting in Karachi seem fabricated, especially when Pakistani prisoners disparage India without cause.
The necessary urgency is also not communicated in scenes involving red tape and Sushila Swaraj, Susma Swaraj’s opponent. The Srikakulam accent of the lead couple required a lot more polishing. When they find it difficult to carry on a conversation when the supporting
In conclusion
If you are looking for a film that explores the subject in depth and is serious or rational, like the 2016 Hindi film Sarabjit, this is not for you.
Thandel is more of a lighthearted romantic drama that only succeeds if you care about the main characters and want their romance to succeed. Would it have been better? Indeed. However, Chaitanya may finally get the victory she has been seeking.
