Thandel Box Office: A Promising Start for the Telugu Romantic Action Film
Naga Chaitanya and Sai Pallavi’s latest Telugu film, Thandel, is making waves at the box office, crossing the ₹50 crore mark worldwide in just three days. Despite facing competition from other releases, including Ajith’s Vidaamuyarchi and the Hindi film Badass Ravikumar, Thandel has maintained an impressive pace, fueled by positive word-of-mouth. Thandel is a 2025 Telugu-language romantic action thriller film starring Naga Chaitanya and Sai Pallavi, directed by Chandoo Mondeti and produced by Bunny Vasu under Geetha Arts. The film is inspired by a real-life incident from 2018, in which fishermen from Srikakulam were captured by Pakistani forces after accidentally drifting into international waters.
Worldwide Collection:
- Day 3 Worldwide: ₹52.05 crore
- Overseas Collection: ₹8.1 crore
- India Gross Collection: ₹43.95 crore
India Net Collection:
- Total (3 Days): ₹37.25 crore
- Day 1: ₹11.5 crore
- Day 2: ₹12.1 crore
- Day 3: ₹13.11 crore
- Day 4: Approximately ₹4.75 crore (early estimates)
Performance Details:
Thandel witnessed a steady upward trend in its first three days, with a slight increase of 3% on Day 3, earning ₹13.11 crore. The film has performed well in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. However, collections from the Telugu market for Vidaamuyarchi have been modest, bringing in just Rs 1.39 crore in four days.
Budget and Breakeven:
- Thandel was made on a budget of ₹75 crore.
- The film has already recovered approximately 49% of its budget with its India net collection.
- To be considered a hit, Thandel needs to earn ₹76 crore worldwide.
Comparisons and Competition:
Thandel is holding its own against other releases, including Ajith’s Vidaamuyarchi, which has grossed Rs 92 crores worldwide in four days despite mixed reviews. Badass Ravikumar has earned ₹4.76 Cr India net in 3 days.
Early Estimates for Day 4:
Early estimates suggest that Thandel earned around ₹4.75 Cr India net on its fourth day for all languages. However, it’s important to note that this is live data and subject to change.
About the Film:
The Thandel movie revolves around Raju (Naga Chaitanya), a fearless fisherman from a coastal village in Srikakulam, and Satya (Sai Pallavi), his childhood sweetheart. Their love story is deeply intertwined with the sea, as Raju spends nine months of the year fishing near Gujarat to provide for his family. Satya, concerned for Raju’s safety, pleads with him to find a different occupation. However, Raju, now honored with the title of “Thandel” (leader) among his people, feels obligated to continue his family’s tradition and provide for his community.
Despite Satya’s warnings, Raju embarks on another fishing expedition, unknowingly crossing into Pakistani waters. He and his crew are arrested and imprisoned in Karachi Central Jail, turning their lives upside down. The film then follows Satya’s desperate struggle to bring Raju and the other fishermen back home, highlighting the challenges she faces in her quest.
Cast:
- Naga Chaitanya as Raju
- Sai Pallavi as Satya
- Prakash Belawadi as Pakistani Jailer
- Divya Pillai as Chandra
- Rao Ramesh
- Babloo Prithiveeraj as Satya’s father
Music:
The music of Thandel is composed by Devi Sri Prasad. Critics have praised the music as being the soul of the film, particularly the use of the “Bujji Thalli” song throughout the film
The Verdict:
Thandel has had a promising start. The film is steadily marching towards profitability. With positive word-of-mouth and a strong cast, Thandel is expected to continue its impressive run.
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