Sat Feb 08 11:30:29 UTC 2025: ## Naga Chaitanya’s ‘Thandel’ Makes a Splash at the Box Office, Setting New Record
**Hyderabad, India – February 8, 2025** – Naga Chaitanya and Sai Pallavi starrer “Thandel” has made a phenomenal box office debut, shattering previous records for Chaitanya’s films. The action-thriller, directed by Chandoo Mondeti and produced by Bunny Vasu under the Geetha Arts banner, raked in an estimated ₹10 crore net on its opening day across India.
The film’s success is largely driven by its strong performance in its native Telugu-speaking regions of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, where occupancy rates were exceptionally high, reaching 71.10% during night shows. While the Telugu version contributed approximately ₹9.8 crore to the total, the Hindi and Tamil versions added a further ₹20 lakh. Globally, “Thandel” achieved a remarkable ₹27.27 crore gross on its first day.
Positive critical reception for the lead actors’ performances and engaging storyline are cited as key factors contributing to the film’s strong opening. Industry analysts predict that the film, which tells the story of an Indian fisherman caught in international waters, is poised for a successful weekend run and could exceed ₹25-30 crore in earnings due to strong word-of-mouth marketing. The film’s impressive opening has already established it as Naga Chaitanya’s highest-grossing debut.
First Piper 