Right from the announcement, Naga Chaitanya and Sai Pallavi’s Thandel has been seen as a promising project due to multiple factors.
Firstly, its rooted story and grounded, rustic setup make it stand out. And the casting of Sai Pallavi and Naga Chaitanya has always made the film one to look forward to. The ‘intent’ behind the project also perfectly aligns with current audience preferences, as they are ready to appreciate such works.
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When executed well, films like Thandel—driven by honest intent—can hit the jackpot, achieving both ‘critical’ and ‘commercial’ success. Not all films can achieve both. They also create milestones in the careers of those involved and become landmark projects for production houses.
With the first theatrical trailer out, Thandel is just a couple of days away from its U.S. premieres and Friday release in India.
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But does it need a second trailer?
Yes, we strongly believe so—not because the first trailer is bad, but because it didn’t amplify the excitement that had already been building. The posters, songs, and other promotional material generated some anticipation, but the trailer didn’t fully capitalize on that momentum.
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Thandel is just two days away, and with U.S. pre-sales still under $50K, that’s a clear indication of the need for a stronger push.
A well-cut second trailer would definitely help. While the first trailer sets expectations, its execution slightly deviates, particularly with the Pakistan-related sequences. Instead of reinforcing the film’s authenticity and rooted essence, the inclusion of cinematic masala dialogues has somewhat diluted the excitement.
A second trailer, with a sharper focus and more intrigue, could make an impact at this stage.
Even without it, the film’s fate ultimately rests on the first show’s reception and how strong the word-of-mouth turns out to be. Thandel needs a unanimous, undivided positive talk right from the first screenings to amplify its momentum. Now, it’s all on director Chandoo Mondeti to deliver strong content and seize this opportunity.
