“Thandel” (2025) is a Telugu-language romantic action thriller directed by Chandoo Mondeti, featuring Naga Chaitanya as Raju and Sai Pallavi as Satya. The film draws inspiration from a real-life 2018 incident involving an Indian fisherman captured by Pakistani forces. Raju, a devoted fisherman from a coastal village, shares a deep bond with Satya. Despite her pleas to abandon his perilous profession, Raju embarks on a fishing expedition that, due to a massive storm, inadvertently leads him into Pakistani waters, resulting in his arrest. Believing Raju to be lost, Satya consents to marry another. The narrative unfolds around Raju’s struggles in captivity and Satya’s emotional turmoil, exploring themes of love, resilience, and patriotism. Released on February 7, 2025, “Thandel” received mixed reviews, with critics lauding the lead actors’ performances and the film’s emotive depth, while some critiqued its narrative execution.