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Thandel social media review: Sai Pallavi, Naga Chaitanya shine in a flawed romantic saga

Conversely, Pallavi’s performance is less consistent. In scenes where Chaitanya conveys a realistic longing for his partner, her expressions of joy can feel excessive, bordering on melodrama, reminiscent of the manic pixie dream girl trope. However, as the story progresses, she finds her rhythm and delivers a more expected performance.

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Tollywood hasn’t delivered a heartwarming love story in some time, but Chandoo Mondeti’s film “Thandel,” featuring Naga Chaitanya and Sai Pallavi, presents a mix of elements, excelling particularly in its portrayal of romance. The film opens strongly, stumbles in the middle, but ultimately regains its stride.

The narrative centers around Raju (Chaitanya) and his beloved Satya (Pallavi), childhood sweethearts dreaming of a life together. Their primary challenge arises from Raju’s job as a fisherman, which keeps him away for nine months each year in Gujarat. Their relationship is characterized by rare phone calls filled with longing, a flag at the lighthouse symbolizing his absence, and cherished moments when he returns home. However, a broken promise and a fishing trip gone awry put their bond to the test.

“Thandel” draws inspiration from a true story involving the detention of 22 fishermen from Srikakulam and Vizianagaram, who were held by Pakistan for 13 months after inadvertently crossing into their waters. The director weaves in themes of nationalism alongside the romance, successfully engaging the audience during the love-story segments, while the focus on the fishermen’s troubles in Karachi Central Jail feels less compelling. At the beginning, a title card states, “Where drama begins, logic ends,” and the director certainly adheres to this notion.

Chaitanya delivers a strong performance as Thandel (the ship’s captain), embodying the character with authenticity—complete with a rugged look, tanned skin, and an emotional depth that resonates, particularly in a poignant scene where he confronts heartbreak. His portrayal draws viewers in, even during the film’s weaker moments, bolstered by Devi Sri Prasad’s evocative music, especially the track “Bujji Thalli.”

Conversely, Pallavi’s performance is less consistent. In scenes where Chaitanya conveys a realistic longing for his partner, her expressions of joy can feel excessive, bordering on melodrama, reminiscent of the manic pixie dream girl trope. However, as the story progresses, she finds her rhythm and delivers a more expected performance.

The sequences depicting Raju and his crew in Karachi feel contrived, especially moments when Pakistani inmates insult India without provocation. Furthermore, the portrayal of bureaucratic hurdles and the role of Sushila Swaraj (the counterpart to Sushma Swaraj) lacks the urgency the situation demands. The authenticity of the lead characters’ Srikakulam accent also comes into question, as their struggle with dialogue contrasts sharply with the supporting cast’s ease.

In summary, “Thandel” may not appeal to viewers seeking a serious, logical examination of the topic, akin to the Hindi film “Sarabjit” from 2016. Instead, it offers a light-hearted romantic drama that resonates as long as the audience invests in the main characters and hopes for their love to triumph. While there is room for improvement, this film could very well be the breakthrough Chaitanya has been aiming for.

Entertainment

Govinda’s Avatar: Fire and Ash cameo clips go viral, truth behind the AI-generated videos

AI-generated videos claiming Govinda’s cameo in Avatar: Fire and Ash have gone viral, but the actor does not appear in the film.

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Govinda’s ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ cameo clips go viral, truth behind the AI-generated videos

Social media users were left amused and confused after several viral clips claimed that Bollywood actor Govinda had made a surprise cameo in Avatar: Fire and Ash. The videos, which surfaced days after the film’s global release, showed Govinda as a blue-skinned Na’vi on Pandora, delivering dialogues in his trademark style or appearing on screen alongside Jake Sully.

The clips spread rapidly across platforms, with many viewers enjoying the humour, while others questioned whether the filmmaker had actually pulled off an unexpected crossover. Comments ranged from jokes asking where the “full movie” could be watched to disbelief over the possibility of such a casting choice.

No real cameo, clips are entirely AI-generated

Despite their convincing visuals, the viral videos are not authentic. Govinda does not appear in Avatar: Fire and Ash in any form. All the circulating clips and images have been created using artificial intelligence and fan edits, meant purely as memes and satire.

The buzz grew partly because of an old interview where Govinda had claimed he was once offered a role in Avatar but declined it. In that interaction, the actor spoke about being approached for a long shooting schedule and even claimed to have suggested the film’s title. However, this account was later questioned by his wife, Sunita Ahuja, who publicly said she was unaware of any such offer and distanced herself from the claim.

How old claims added fuel to the viral joke

Sunita Ahuja, speaking in a recent podcast, said she had no knowledge of the filmmaker visiting or offering Govinda a role, adding that she did not support false narratives. Her remarks resurfaced as the AI-generated clips went viral, reinforcing that the current buzz has no factual basis.

Avatar, directed by James Cameron, released in 2009, followed by The Way of Water in 2022. Avatar: Fire and Ash, the third instalment of the franchise, is currently running in cinemas worldwide, featuring Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana in lead roles.

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The Odyssey trailer: Christopher Nolan unveils first look of epic journey led by Matt Damon

Christopher Nolan has released the first trailer of The Odyssey, offering a glimpse into Matt Damon’s epic journey home after the Trojan War.

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The oddyssey

Christopher Nolan’s much-awaited film The Odyssey has officially stepped into the spotlight with the release of its first trailer. The ambitious project adapts Homer’s legendary epic and promises a large-scale cinematic experience rooted in myth, war and survival.

A glimpse into Odysseus’ long journey home

The trailer introduces Matt Damon as Odysseus, the Greek hero trying to make his way back home after the Trojan War. The visuals open in the immediate aftermath of the war, showing Odysseus leading his men away from Troy with the hope of returning to their families. However, the journey ahead appears long and dangerous.

Scenes highlight harsh landscapes, turbulent seas and repeated shipwrecks, underlining the physical and emotional toll of the voyage. The focus remains on endurance and survival rather than dialogue, with visuals driving the narrative forward.

One notable sequence shows Odysseus and his soldiers hidden inside the Trojan Horse, confirming that the fall of Troy forms part of the film’s early chapters. Another moment set in a dark cave, with an ominous moving shadow, hints at mythical threats without revealing them fully.

Family ties at the heart of the story

Alongside the action, the trailer places emphasis on family and emotional bonds. Tom Holland appears as Telemachus, Odysseus’ son, while Anne Hathaway plays Penelope, his wife waiting for his return. Their presence adds a personal dimension to the otherwise grand scale of the story.

Ensemble cast and technical scale

The film features an extensive cast that includes Zendaya, Lupita Nyong’o, Charlize Theron, Robert Pattinson, Mia Goth, Benny Safdie, Jon Bernthal, John Leguizamo, Elliot Page, Himesh Patel and Corey Hawkins, alongside Damon, Hathaway and Holland.

Christopher Nolan has written and directed The Odyssey and is producing it with Emma Thomas. Backed by a major studio, the film has been shot using new IMAX technology and is described as the first feature made entirely using IMAX’s largest film format.

The Odyssey is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on July 17, 2026.

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Dhurandhar box office day 17: Ranveer Singh film crosses Rs 555 crore, enters all-time top 10

Dhurandhar crosses Rs 555 crore at the Indian box office on day 17, overtaking Animal and entering the all-time top 10 films list.

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Dhurandhar

Ranveer Singh-starrer Dhurandhar continues its strong theatrical run, pushing closer to the Rs 600 crore mark at the domestic box office. On its 17th day, the film entered the all-time top 10 Indian films list, overtaking several major blockbusters released in recent years.

According to figures reported by media tracking platforms, Dhurandhar earned around Rs 38.50 crore on Sunday, taking its total domestic net collection to approximately Rs 555.75 crore.

Dhurandhar overtakes Animal, Pathaan and Gadar 2

With its latest earnings, Dhurandhar has surpassed Ranbir Kapoor’s Animal, which had collected Rs 553 crore during its lifetime run in India. The film has now secured the tenth position among the highest-grossing Indian films domestically.

The Ranveer Singh-led project has also gone past the lifetime collections of Sunny Deol’s Gadar 2 (Rs 525 crore) and Shah Rukh Khan’s Pathaan (Rs 543 crore). Notably, Dhurandhar achieved these milestones without relying on dubbed versions, unlike several films ahead of it on the list.

Strong opening and sustained momentum

Released in cinemas on December 5, Dhurandhar opened on an impressive note, collecting Rs 103 crore in its first weekend. The film earned Rs 28 crore on Friday, followed by Rs 32 crore on Saturday and Rs 43 crore on Sunday.

The momentum continued during the weekdays, with collections of Rs 23.25 crore on Monday and Rs 27 crore on Tuesday. With similar earnings on Wednesday and Thursday, the film closed its first week at Rs 207.25 crore.

The second weekend saw a further surge, with Saturday collections touching Rs 53 crore and Sunday adding another Rs 58 crore. Weekday earnings remained steady, helping the film cross the Rs 500 crore mark comfortably within its third week.

Cast, release and sequel plans

Directed by Aditya Dhar, Dhurandhar features Ranveer Singh in the lead role, alongside Akshaye Khanna, Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, R Madhavan, Sara Arjun and Rakesh Bedi in key roles. The makers have already confirmed that a sequel to the film is slated for theatrical release on March 19 next year.

With no major signs of slowdown so far, Dhurandhar remains on track to further strengthen its position among the highest-grossing Indian films of all time.

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