Thandel, which claims to be based on actual events, has been released on 7th Feburary, It tells the story of 22 Srikakulam fisherman who were imprisoned for two years after becoming captured in Pakistan.
Real Story:
The YSRCP government at the time, headed by Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, worked hard to get them released. Jagan personally managed the procedure, guaranteeing the safe return of every fisherman. They went to thank Tadepalli when they got back. In order to help them, the government also started building a fishing harbor in the district and gave each family Rs 5 lakh in cash assistance.
Fishermen’s Reaction After Release:
However, Janakiram, president of the Srikakulam Mechanized Boats Association, blasted the movie for distorting the truth. He said that although fishermen’s leaders put in a lot of effort to secure their release, the film did not recognize their efforts. Despite his crucial influence, he also noted that former chief minister Jagan’s position was disregarded. Questioning why the movie left out the former CM’s contributions if it was meant to portray actual events, he contended that Thandel put commercial appeal ahead of truth. He said that the real Thandel was Jagan.
However, film industry sources speculated that the filmmakers may have been afraid of repercussions from the current administration if they had given Jagan Mohan Reddy a favorable portrayal.