Thandel
| Thandel | |
|---|---|
| Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Chandoo Mondeti | 
| Screenplay by | Chandoo Mondeti | 
| Story by | Kartheek Theeda | 
| Produced by | Bunny Vasu | 
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Shamdat Sainudeen | 
| Edited by | Naveen Nooli | 
| Music by | Devi Sri Prasad | 
| Production company | |
| Release date | 
 | 
| Running time | 151 minutes | 
| Country | India | 
| Language | Telugu | 
| Budget | ₹75 crore | 
| Box office | ₹100 crore | 
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.
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. The film has grossed over ₹100 crores worldwide and is the fifth highest-grossing Telugu film of 2025.