Directed by Sandhu Mondetti, the film stars Naga Chaitanya and Sai Pallavi in the lead roles. The film, which is based on a true story, is produced by producer Bunny Vas under Geetha Arts. Producer Allu Aravind is presenting it.
‘Dhandel’, which is a pan-India film, is set to release in theaters on February 7 in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi. In Tamil Nadu, the film is being released by producer S.R. Prabhu under Dream Warrior Pictures.
In this context, the pre-release and preview launch of the film ‘Dhandel’ was held in Chennai yesterday evening. Actor Karthi, directors Venkat Prabhu and Karthik Subbaraj were present as special guests.
Speaking at the event, actor Karthi said, “This is an important stage for me. I have received a lot of love from the Telugu film industry. I consider this an opportunity to repay that love. Only after coming here did Naga Chaitanya tell me that this story is a true story that happened in 2018. It was interesting to hear. Fishermen from our village go to the Pakistani border and get trapped. They go to Gujarat and while fishing in a boat, they cross the border and get trapped in Pakistan. Then how they escape from there is a beautiful love story that this film has been created.
No matter how big a thriller it is, even if it is like Titanic, it needs a love story. That love is what stands out in the mind. If they have bought the rights from 20 people and presented it as a beautiful love story, how much confidence the producer must have in this story. They have been shooting for this film for a year and a half. Because of this, they are releasing this film all over India with confidence.Director Sandhu Mondetti’s previous films are also successful films. We have seen many films set against the backdrop of the sea. Now we are ready for a new experience again. I congratulate him for this.
Producer Allu Aravind is like Bhishma in the film world. Producers come and go in the film world. It is difficult to survive for a long time. Big companies have stopped producing films. In this environment, Allu Aravind continues to produce films. He produces films with business acumen in cinema. He asks how he has been giving hits for so many years after watching Devi Sri Prasad. Similarly, I ask him how he has been giving hit films continuously. He has been producing films with great enthusiasm with different people and in different alliances. He has produced films in all languages. His passion for cinema continues to amaze me to this day. He keeps giving advice when he takes Tamil films to the Telugu film world and promotes them. You have to learn from him how to be a producer, how much you love your film, how to bring it to the masses, how to protect the actors and actresses, how to work from the moment you start making the film until you bring it to the theaters for the fans. I am very happy to know him. For this, I sincerely congratulate and thank him at this moment. I wish this film a huge success because of the faith he has in this film.
Karunakaran is making his debut in the Telugu film industry with this film. He is also a wonderful actor. I wish him success in Telugu too. My best wishes to Aadukalam Naren. They have continuously given him serious roles and made him a serious actor. But he can also do comedy wonderfully. He would have mixed comedy in the film All in All Azhugaraja.When I went to Turkey, DSP songs were playing there too. This is the fame he has got. He always keeps working. If you go to his studio.. he only talks about music. He belongs to this country. They are always full of energy. That is why I love him very much. The songs of this film are also wonderful. I congratulate him too. All music composers will showcase their talent if they get a love story. DSP has showcased his talent in this film too and made all the songs a hit.
Sai Pallavi is very special. She keeps showcasing her talent in every role she plays. Be it a love story.. she pours love into it and resolves it. That is why all the youth are crazy about you. Don’t even talk about dancing. Even if it is to convey pain, you leave a mark on it. The experience of acting in a role that is beyond her age is also different. I have talked to you after watching the film Amaran. What is the sacrifice of an army officer’s wife? The public does not know. The way you described it in the film Amaran made us understand their pain. Thank you for this.
I know Naga Chaitanya, his grandfather. I know Nagarjuna after him. After watching the film ‘Idayathai Thirudaye’.. many people tried to dress like him.. run like him. But no one could do it in the style he did. They did not know how to speak beautifully like him. I have worked with him in a Telugu film. When I went there and participated in the shooting, he would watch and do every single thing. He would take such care. He is unparalleled in showering love. It has been 10 years since I worked with him. However, he still knows what film I am currently doing. He would tell me to watch that film. If I watch the film and like it.. he would immediately tweet. I do not know what to do in return for him who has always shown me love like this.
When I first saw Naga Chaitanya on screen, I thought they were pressuring a shy young man to act..! But there was an innocence in his face, and that innocence is what many women admire. I liked his innocence. I liked his father too. I liked his grandfather too. Naga Chaitanya is interested in working hard. His growth is visible in every film. He has changed his body shape for a year and a half for this film. Hard work never goes in vain. This film will be the right reward for your hard work. I am sure that this film will be a big success in Tamil as well.I wish this film a big success as it has many positive aspects like Viveka- Devi Sri Prasad’s hit songs- Sai Pallavi’s look- Aadhi Samvam- Pudhu Idea – he said.
Producer S R Prabhu said, “What is Thandel? The question arises in everyone. In Indian cinema, we are currently crossing the boundary of language. The titles of the films that are currently being released seem to attract everyone. We have become accustomed to this after ‘Baahubali’. No one has ever questioned what Bahubali is. Similarly, I hope that Thandel will also receive great support without anyone raising any questions. However, we will know from the trailer that Thandel means leader in this film.
When we watch this film, it is clear that they have made it with dedication. Without the pressure of making a pan-Indian film, they have created a story and made this film with the hope that it will reach the pan-Indian audience. They have worked hard for this. I would like to thank producer Allu Aravind for giving our Dream Warrior Pictures the opportunity to release this film in Tamil Nadu.
At a time when it is challenging to pass 10, 15 years as a producer in the film industry, Allu Aravind, the producer of Geetha Arts, has been continuously delivering films for 50 years. In this regard, Geetha Arts is an example for everyone.I want to work with Naga Chaitanya. But now I have got the opportunity to distribute her film all over Tamil Nadu.
If Sai Pallavi is acting in a film.. Sai Pallavi has created a hope in the people of Tamil Nadu that the film will be good. Since she has acted in this film, I also believe that this film will be good. Actor Karunakaran has now become a pan-Indian actor and I also congratulate him.
My congratulations to everyone who worked on this film. The film will be released all over Tamil Nadu on the seventh of February. I request everyone to support this too,” he said.
Speaking, Director Karthik Subbaraj said, “Actor Karunakaran had mentioned this film during the shooting of the film Retro. Since then, I have had high expectations for the film. Director Sandhu’s previous films are good. Talented star actors like Naga Chaitanya and Sai Pallavi have acted in them. The love story between them. I expect it to be interesting as it has a unique background.
Karunakaran mentioned that he had travelled a lot while narrating. When he talked about the place where the story takes place.. when he saw it in the preview.. it was interesting. The songs of Rockstar were also good. My congratulations to the entire team.
Actor Karunakaran is talented. Not only comedy, he can play any character. He is making his debut in Telugu through this film. I wish him to get opportunities in Telugu too. I wish the film to be successful,” he said.
Speaking, director Venkat Prabhu said, ”I am happy. I am meeting Naga Chaitanya for the first time after a year and a half. His script selection is unique. It is difficult to convince Naga Chaitanya.This genre is new. When Karunakaran told me about the film, he said that it is a film based on a true story. The hard work of the crew is evident even when you watch the preview of the film. Shooting in the sea is difficult. Challenging. But it has been beautifully and elegantly shot. My congratulations to the director and the entire team.
I am a big fan of Sai Pallavi. Not only me but many directors are your fans. I welcome you to be paired together on screen again. There is positive energy when you both are seen on screen.
DSP and I have been hanging out together since we were young. Independent music albums are only now becoming popular, but in the 90s, Devi Sri Prasad and S.P.P. Saran had released an independent music album together. Even if I was in that group, they would not have allowed me to sing. He has also given his hard work for this film. My congratulations to him too.
Director Sandhu – I have seen his previous films including ‘Karthikeya’. This is the third time he and Naga Chaitanya have come together. Director Sandhu has been directing films in different genres. My congratulations to him too.
You have introduced our Karunakaran in Telugu. I congratulate the team for this too.Naga Chaitanya is talented. He is a dedicated worker. He speaks Tamil well. Tamil directors can go to him and explain the story and the scene in Tamil. He also takes a lot of effort to improve a scene. I wish that we both work together in a film again. But I want it to be a Telugu film. Because it should not be a mixture of Telugu and Tamil. Even though he comes from a family background with a big film personality, he can easily interact. I congratulate him for this too. I wish that this film becomes a huge success and touches new heights,” he said.
Music composer ‘Rockstar’ Devi Sri Prasad said, “I am very happy. ‘Dhandel’ is a special film for me. Producer Bunny Vas and director Sandhu met me about the film Dhandel and told me a story about the film in one line. That was interesting. That interestingness was there throughout the film. So I was excited to work on it. I hope you all get it.
If you mention the sea… the connection between that film and Chennai will be easy to establish. This film also has everything – sea- beach- fishermen- love. So this film will be close to the Tamil Nadu fans.
Allu Aravind has known me since I was a child. He is also a great music fan. I thank him for producing this film and for giving me the opportunity.
Naga Chaitanya is my friend. My brother. He is talented. I was surprised when I saw the poster of Thandel. He had changed his body shape for this character. This is not our usual Naga Chaitanya..! I thought. My congratulations to him for working hard for the film.
Sai Pallavi just needs to pronounce this name. Everyone will like it. Even the best director of India, Mani Ratnam, is a fan of Sai Pallavi. She has also given her special contribution in this film. My congratulations to her too. She is not only a great actress. She is a good dancer. Has she danced in the songs in his films..? I’m looking forward to it. Whatever a song needs.. he embellishes it with small dance moves within that song.All the scenes of this film are excellent, awe-inspiring and magnificent. My congratulations to everyone who worked on this film. My thanks to Karthi, director Karthik Subbaraj and Venkat Prabhu, who are attending the event as special guests by releasing the preview of this film.
I always give importance and priority to lyricists. Because I am the son of the famous writer Sathyamoorthy. He is not only a writer. He is also a lyricist. Even if a tune is beautifully composed for a song, it is the lyrics that express it. In this way, lyricist Viveka has written all the songs of this film. My congratulations to her too.
I request everyone to visit the cinema hall, watch, enjoy and support the movie Thandel, which will be released in theaters all over the world on February 7th,” she said.
Actress Sai Pallavi, speaking, said, “Thank you to Karthi sir – Venkat Prabhu sir – Karthik Subbaraj sir – who are here as special guests. Thank you all for taking time out of your busy schedules to come here and congratulate the team.
Director Sandhu adapted the story of the film Thandel from a true incident during the Covid period and told it in a 20-page story. He has transformed it into such a beautiful love story. He has worked hard for three years for this. The shooting took place for one and a half years. This journey is unforgettable.
My co-star Naga Chaitanya has given one and a half years for this character and has worked hard. Although he still has to work for this, he is ready for that too. Working with him again was an unforgettable experience.
The songs of this film are very popular among Telugu fans. My congratulations to the rock star DSP who worked for this.
My congratulations also to Karunakaran, who is making his debut in the Telugu film industry. I welcome him on behalf of the Telugu film industry. Even though he did not know the language during the shooting, he has acted wonderfully. I hope he will also get opportunities in Telugu.I have learned a lot in the one and a half years I have been working with the Thandel team. My best wishes to everyone. The film will be released on February 7th. Everyone should go to the theater and watch the film. I hope everyone likes it.”
Producer Allu Aravind said, “I studied in Chennai. I went to Hyderabad to earn a living. I did my graduation from the Government Arts College, Chennai. After that, I started studying law at the Law College. After two years, I dropped out without continuing my studies.
First of all, I would like to thank actor Karthi. Next, I would like to thank director Karthi Subbaraj and Venkat Prabhu. Both Naga Chaitanya and Sai Pallavi have worked hard on this film. ‘Thandel’ has emerged as a quality work.
Director Sandhu is an amazing talent. He has worked hard and created Thandel. The story is short. But the way he presented it is excellent. We have bought the rights from 20 people for the story of this film. All of those 20 people went to Pakistan and were imprisoned there and were later released. This is their story. The director has narrated it as a two-hour story. I once again thank director Sandhu for making this story into a wonderful work.
Music composer Devi Sri Prasad is like a son to me. I have known him since I was a child. I am asking him a question from here. How come you have been continuously giving hit songs for 25 years? His father is a good friend of mine. Karunakaran is making his Telugu debut with this film. His performance will be talked about in the film. My best wishes to Aadukalam Naren too.
When I decided to release this film in Tamil, the only person who came to my mind was S. R. Prabhu. I am happy that he is releasing this film in Tamil Nadu. I request everyone to support this film,” he said.The beginning of the film Thandel was when director Sandhu met me and told me a small idea about a true incident in a documentary style. It involves a long journey from a village called Srikakulam to Gujarat and then to Pakistan for a year and a half and then back. As an actor, I was surprised after hearing that true story. After that, I went to Srikakulam and met the fishermen living there and got to know their way of life. That journey was unforgettable, that experience was unforgettable.
Such an opportunity is very rare. I changed myself for this. We have made this because the fans will definitely like such a story. The fishermen of Srikakulam are the real heroes of the film. I also thank the producers Bunny Vas and Allu Aravind. After my third film, 100% Love, I am again working with producer Allu Aravind. I am waiting with confidence that this film will also be a big success.
Every love story movie should have hit songs. In this one too, Rock Star Devi Sri Prasad has made all the songs hit. I thank him for this. He not only composed the music for the songs for this movie but also visited the set and encouraged me while the songs were being screened.
Sai Pallavi is special to me as everyone says. Every actor, every director, every technician talks about you. Everyone is your fan. Working with you is a pleasant experience. I also thank him at this moment.
Producer S. R. Prabhu is releasing this movie in Tamil under the banner of Dream Warrior Pictures. I also thank him for this. He and I have discussed many stories. I hope we will work together soon.Although he did not act with Karunakaran in this film, his contribution was good. I would also like to thank him at this juncture. The film Thandel will be released in theatres on the 7th of February. I request everyone to visit the theatres, watch it, enjoy it and support it,” he said.
The film, which stars Prakash Belavadi, Karunakaran, ‘Aadukalam’ Naren, Bablu and others, has been shot by Sham Dutt Zainuddin. ‘Rock Star’ Devi Sri Prasad has composed the music.
