Naga Chaitanya and Sai Pallavi reunite for Chandoo Mondeti’s Thandel, a gripping love story with a patriotic twist. Produced by Bunny Vas and Allu Aravind, the film is set for release on February 7. The recently launched trailer promises an emotionally charged and dramatic experience.
The story revolves around Raju (Naga Chaitanya), a fisherman, and Bujji (Sai Pallavi), his unwavering emotional support. Their love story faces severe trials when Raju inadvertently crosses borders and is arrested by Pakistani forces.
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What follows is a poignant narrative reminiscent of Mani Ratnam’s Roja, as Bujji fights against bureaucratic red tape to bring Raju home. Meanwhile, Raju endures hardships in a Pakistani prison, delivering patriotic lines that evoke strong emotions.
After watching the trailer, some viewers feel the film seems like a pure love story with the patriotic angle inserted unnecessarily. They feel the India vs Pakistan element looks disjointed and out of place.
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However, the reality is quite the opposite. The patriotism aspect isn’t an afterthought—it’s actually the main plot. The film is inspired by the true stories of Srikakulam fishermen who accidentally crossed into Pakistani waters and ended up in Karachi jails.
The love story has been added to enhance the emotional and dramatic impact. It’s crucial for the makers to convey this clearly during promotions to avoid misunderstandings about the story’s intent.
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For the film to succeed on a large scale, the patriotic theme needs to strike a chord with the audience. It should feel authentic, subtle, and emotionally resonant rather than coming across as artificial, loud, or overly jingoistic.
The trailer for Thandel has received a decent response so far, but whether this will translate into strong box-office openings remains to be seen.
