The pre-release event for Chandoo Mondeti’s highly anticipated film Thandel, starring Naga Chaitanya and Sai Pallavi, is set to take place in Hyderabad on Sunday evening. Notably, Allu Arjun will be the chief guest. However, unlike most events of this nature, the event will follow a closed-door format and will not be open to the public.
Closed-Door Pre-Release Event Announcement
Initially scheduled for Saturday, the event was postponed due to Arjun’s unavailability. On Sunday, the film’s team officially announced the change on X (formerly Twitter), stating:
“PLEASE NOTE: No public entry for today’s #ThandelJaathara. Enjoy the ICONIC EVENT from the comfort of your homes.”
The accompanying note further explained:
“Pushpa Raj x Thandel Raju. Unfortunately, owing to certain reasons, Iconic Thandel Jaathara is a closed-door event. There is no permission for public entry to the event. Watch the event live on your screens and enjoy the event to the fullest.”
Although the announcement did not provide specific reasons, sources indicate that the decision was influenced by legal restrictions surrounding Arjun’s presence at public events.
Allu Arjun’s Legal Issues Post Pushpa 2 Event
Allu Arjun is currently out on bail after his involvement in a stampede incident during the December premiere of Pushpa 2: The Rule at Sandhya Theatre. The police alleged that Arjun attended the event without obtaining proper permission. Tragically, the incident resulted in the death of a woman and left a young boy hospitalised in critical condition after fans surged forward to meet the actor.
Given these legal issues, the Thandel team reportedly decided to opt out of a public event due to the potential difficulty in securing permissions.
Past Incidents Impacting Pre-Release Events
This is not the first time a pre-release event has faced complications in the Telugu film industry. In September last year, the pre-release event for Devara: Part 1 had to be cancelled due to an uncontrollable crowd after fans broke barricades. The cast and crew were escorted out as the team failed to secure an open-air venue for the event.
About Thandel Movie
Produced by Bunny Vasu under Geetha Arts and presented by Allu Aravind, Thandel is based on a real-life incident involving fishermen from Srikakulam who accidentally drifted into Pakistani waters. The film promises an engaging narrative with powerful performances and is set to release in theatres on February 7.
