Sat Feb 08 05:40:38 UTC 2025: ## Naga Chaitanya’s “Thandel” Makes Strong Box Office Debut
**Hyderabad, India** – Naga Chaitanya’s latest Telugu film, “Thandel,” enjoyed a successful opening day at the box office, earning ₹10 crore (approximately $1.2 million USD) on its first day of release, February 7th. This marks a strong comeback for the actor after a series of box office disappointments.
The romantic action thriller, co-starring Sai Pallavi, saw particularly strong performance in its native Telugu language, grossing ₹9.8 crore. Additional revenue came from Hindi (₹15 lakh) and Tamil (₹5 lakh) releases. While impressive, the opening falls slightly short of Chaitanya’s highest-grossing opening, “Love Story,” which earned ₹10.50 crore on its first day.
“Thandel,” which tells the story of Srikakulam fishermen who accidentally enter Pakistani waters, garnered significant pre-release buzz. Telugu occupancy on Friday reached 53.58%, while Hindi occupancy sat at 9.13%. Industry estimates value the film’s total theatrical business at ₹37 crore (approximately $4.5 million USD), with ₹27.50 crore projected from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana alone. To be considered a box office hit, “Thandel” needs to reach a ₹38 crore share or a gross collection exceeding ₹60 crore.
Filmmakers are optimistic, however, believing the film has the potential to reach the ₹100 crore mark. The film’s success is further boosted by the popularity of its soundtrack, composed by Devi Sri Prasad, with songs like “Bujji Thalli” and “Highlessa Highlessa” going viral. Directed by Chandu Mondeti and produced by Bunny Vasu under the banner Geetha Arts, “Thandel” is poised to continue its box office run.
First Piper 