Hyderabad, January 31, 2025: Tollywood stars Naga Chaitanya and Sai Pallavi headline Thandel, a pan-India film directed by Chandoo Mondeti. Based on real events in D. Matsyalesam village, Srikakulam district, the movie portrays the ordeal of fishermen captured by the Pakistan Coast Guard and imprisoned for two years. Set to release on February 7, the film features a stunning ₹18 crore sequence, as revealed by the director.
Chandoo Mondeti shared that insights from his previous film Karthikeya 2 helped refine Thandel. He revisited D. Matsyalesam to capture authentic details, including a storm and the fishermen’s resourcefulness. Aiming to enhance the visuals, Chandoo shot the ₹18 crore sequence using live sea locations, studio setups, and virtual effects, creating a film with a strong emotional core.
