Thandel Opens Strong, Clocks ₹7 Crore on Day One
Naga Chaitanya’s action-packed love story sees good openings, but mixed reports emerge from some centers
Young actor Naga Chaitanya has delivered strong openings with his latest release, Thandel, as the action-adventure film raked in impressive collections across the Telugu states. "It has collected Rs 6.5 to Rs7 crore in net collections on day one, which is a solid start," says a distributor. However, he notes that while the love story infused with patriotism has its appeal, it could have been handled better. "The film needs to draw more crowds to theaters and recover its costs, as it was sold at a high price in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana," he adds.
Once again, Naga Chaitanya and Sai Pallavi’s onscreen chemistry, along with their romantic moments, have kept audiences engaged, though the love story could have been explored further. "After setbacks like Thank You and Custody, Naga Chaitanya has found a breather of sorts. However, there are mixed reports from certain centers," the distributor points out.
Ace producer Allu Aravind’s aggressive promotions have helped Thandel open well. "Now, word-of-mouth publicity is crucial in pulling in Telugu audiences. Even the lead actors should actively participate in promotional tours," he suggests.
For his role as a fisherman, Naga Chaitanya underwent rigorous training in Tamil Nadu for over a month to perfect his accent and body language. "Now, it’s up to the audience to decide the film’s fate," he concludes.