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Thandel

7 February 2025Telugu2h 32m

What critics are saying

Critical reception for Thandel is mixed-to-positive, with the central love story and lead performances drawing the most consistent praise.

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Fisherman Raju is deeply in love with Satya. However, at one point, she urges him to stop going to the sea and look for other jobs. Ignoring her plea, Raju ventures out and accidentally drifts into Pakistani waters, where he is arrested.

Critic Consensus

Critical reception for Thandel is mixed-to-positive, with the central love story and lead performances drawing the most consistent praise. Naga Chaitanya and Sai Pallavi's performances and the film's music and visuals were widely appreciated across reviews. The most common criticism is an inconsistency in writing and narrative focus, with several critics noting that the film loses momentum when it shifts away from its romantic core toward action and patriotic heroism, creating tonal and identity conflicts.

5 rated reviews · 3 positive · 2 mixed

Praised: lead performances and love storyCriticised: inconsistent writing and narrative focus

AI-generated summary of 7 critic reviews · may contain errors

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Critic Reviews (7)

Updated
Avad Mohammad· Ottplay
7.0
Thandel is a moving romantic drama with breakthrough performances by Naga Chaitanya and Sai Pallavi. Sai Pallavi and Naga Chaitanya set the screen on fire with their amazing chemistry, complemented by beautiful songs and solid emotions.
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Paul Nicodemus· Times Of India
7.0
Thandel is an engaging romantic action drama that delivers on its promise. While there are moments where the narrative could have been tighter, the film’s decent storytelling, moving music, stunning visuals and brilliant lead performances ensure it leaves an impact. If you’re looking for an intense love story with drama, action, and a touch of patriotism, Thandel is worth a watch.
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Rachit Gupta· Filmfare
7.0
A romantic film with great music and terrific performances by the lead pair. That would have been the perfect description for Thandel, had it not been for the inconsistent writing. What really doesn't come together is the Sai's and Chaitanya's romantic chemistry, neither in the first half nor in the second.
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Arjun Menon· Rediff
5.0
Thandel is a film in a constant state of identity crisis, trying to be bigger and dramatically ambitious, with middling results. The reluctance to own the romantic tragedy at the heart for superficial thrills prevents Thandel from truly rising.
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Avinash Ramachandran· Indian Express
5.0
When the film focusses on the ups and downs of Sai Pallavi-Naga Chaitanya relationship, it sails quite smoothly, but the moment the film enters the murky waters of Pakistan, Thandel turns into a heroic tale of unlikely heroes, whose sorrow gets lost in the heroism.
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Neeshita Nyayapati· Hindustan Times
Not rated
Chandoo Mondeti's Naga Chaitanya and Sai Pallavi-starrer Thandel is a mixed bag, but one can't fault it when it comes to the love story. The film starts well, falters, but thankfully finds its footing again.
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Not rated
At times, Thandel nearly derails, but the love story steers it back on course. Yet, despite its flaws, it remains an engaging watch, carried by its deeply empathetic love story.
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Cast & Crew

Details

Release Date
7 February 2025
Runtime
2h 32m
Language
Telugu

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