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. Inspired by a real-life story, Thandel tells an epic love story told in the midst of an India-Pakistan setting, a quaint sea side town, Karachi jail and the political corridors of Delhi. At the heart of this cross-geographical story are two classic lovers Raju (Naga Chaitanya) and Satya (Sai Pallavi). They’re made for each other and they’re childhood sweethearts whose love cannot be diminished by time or thousands of kilometres of separation. Yet, these perfect lovers are torn apart by the sea, a storm and India-Pakistan politics. Thandel in Telugu, literally means the leader of a ship, and in this film, Chaitanya assumes the role of Thandel and his responsibility takes him away from the love of his life Satya. That’s the quintessential drama of the film.
The story starts off in a quaint, Indian town by the sea. The men from the town are fishermen, and they travel 2000 kms across the country to Gujarat every year. They lend their fishing skills to a contractor in Gujarat port and set out to sea for months on end, leaving behind their wives, mothers, sisters and lovers to look after the village and town. Raju and Satya have grown up in this setting and the entire town awaits their eventual union. Raju travels out to sea for 9 months every year and Satya waits behind, waiting for when he will return to spend the remaining 3 months with her. Raju and Satya pine to see each other and a big part of their courtship involves talking on the phone when they’re physically apart. That setup is the entire first half of Thandel and it literally goes on for too long. This premise, though epic in treatment, could have easily been established in half the time that Chandoo Mondeti manages to do in the film.
The second half then segues into the story of Raju being apprehended at sea by the Pakistani navy and sent to Karachi jail along with his party of 21 other fishermen. It is during these portions of the second half that the story on Thandel actually comes alive. Raju and his band of fisherfolk are subjected to jail atrocities while Satya and the women of the village, rally their efforts to speak to Indian politicians and leaders in Delhi to get their men back. Just when India’s External Affairs Minister is about to rescue the fishermen, the Govt announces the abrogation of Article 370, straining relations between India-Pakistan and stalling the chances of Raju and his friends returning home.
Satya, though very miffed with Raju, decides to take matters in her own hands. It is during these portions, that Sai Pallavi’s performance truly comes alive. Ditto for Chaitanya, who during their incarceration in Pakistan, lives upto his position as Thandel and protects his friends from the jail atrocities. What really doesn’t come together is the Sai’s and Chaitanya’s romantic chemistry, neither in the first half nor in the second. When they’re dancing and making merry to Devi Sri Prasad’s music, they look very much good together. But in scenes of cute romance and intense moments, the lead pair doesn’t quite come together like the Romeo and Juliet that they’re supposed to be.
DSP’s music and Shamdat Sainudeen’s cinematography are highlights of Thandel. Together the music and visuals of this film are at par with any international production one may have seen. But director Chandoo Mondeti’s direction and the screenplay don’t always convince you of the epic that’s unfolding on screen.
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