Thandel review and rating:
Story:
Thandel starts as a love story between Satya (Sai Pallavi) and Raju (Naga Chaitanya), inspired by a real-life incident of a fisherman lost at sea and captured by the Pakistani police. But instead of staying true to its emotional core, the film takes a sharp turn into an unexpected (and unnecessary) patriotic drama. The result? A story that starts off strong but ends up meandering through random conflicts and overused tropes.
Performances
Naga Chaitanya delivers one of his better performances as Thandel Raju. He holds his own alongside a seasoned performer like Sai Pallavi, proving he has evolved as an actor. Unlike some of his past roles, he keeps it natural without overacting, making his performance one of the film’s few highlights.
Sai Pallavi plays Satya with ease, but it’s nothing we haven’t seen before. She delivers the required emotions, but the character itself feels predictable. While she does her part well, there’s nothing groundbreaking about her role this time.
Prakash Belawadi plays a typical Pakistani jailor, but the writing doesn’t give him much to work with. Karunakaran has a decent role, but none of the supporting cast members make a lasting impact because their characters are underdeveloped.
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Analysis
Director Chandoo Mondeti seems to have forgotten what movie he was making halfway through. The first half builds up an emotional love story well, with visually appealing scenes and strong chemistry between the leads. Songs like Hilesso Hilessa and Shiva Shiva create an immersive experience, and the train station sequence keeps the audience engaged. By the time the interval arrives, it looks like the film is heading towards an emotionally rich second half.
But then, everything takes a bizarre turn. Instead of deepening the love story, the second half throws in unnecessary India-Pakistan tensions, an irrelevant villain, and a forced patriotic angle. The Pakistani jail sequences add little value, and the Azaadi protest subplot feels like an afterthought. Instead of making the audience feel Satya’s pain, the film spends too much time on random conflicts and political commentary.
The climax, unfortunately, wraps things up in a predictable and overly convenient manner. For a movie that aims to be realistic, it takes too many cinematic shortcuts.
Music and Technical Aspects
Devi Sri Prasad’s music is one of the film’s biggest strengths, enhancing both the love story and emotional moments.Shamdat’s cinematography keeps the visuals stunning throughout.Editing by Navin Nooli could have been sharper, especially in the sluggish second half. Geetha Arts’ production values ensure the film looks polished despite its limited settings.
Final Verdict
Thandel starts strong but loses its way with unnecessary detours. The love story, which should have been the heart of the film, gets sidelined for a generic patriotic subplot. Watch it for the performances and music—but keep your expectations in check.
BOTTOM LINE
Lead Pair Shines, but the Film Forgets Its Own Plot
Rating : 2.5/5
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