Thandel 2025

Thandel (lit. 'Captain of the boat') is a 2025 Indian Telugu-language romantic action thriller film written and directed by Chandoo Mondeti. Produced by Bunny Vasu under Geetha Arts, and starring Naga Chaitanya and Sai Pallavi. The film is based on a real-life incident that occurred in 2018, depicting how Pakistani forces captured a fisherman from Srikakulam in international waters. Arabia Kadali, a television series created by Krish Jagarlamudi is also based on the same story but was released in August 2025. Thandel was initially scheduled to be released in January 2025, on the occasion of Sankranthi, but was postponed. The film was released in theatres on 7 February 2025 to mixed reviews from critics, who praised the lead cast's performance, visuals and soundtrack, while the narration received criticism. Despite the criticism, it is a commercial success at the box office. The film has grossed over ₹100 crores worldwide and is the fifth highest-grossing Telugu film of 2025.