Thandel: True Story Of Chodipilli Musalayya And Fishermen That Inspired Naga Chaitanya, Sai Pallavi’s Film

Thandel, starring Naga Chaitanya and Sai Pallavi, portrays the real-life ordeal of fishermen who were detained and tortured after accidentally drifting into Pakistani waters.

Naga Chaitanya and Sai Pallavi’s film ‘Thandel’ is all set to hit the theatres on February 7.

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Thandel release: Naga Chaitanya and Sai Pallavi’s film ‘Thandel’ is all set to hit the theatres on February 7. Set against the backdrop of the Srikakulam district in Andhra Pradesh, the film portrays the real-life ordeal of fishermen who were detained and tortured after accidentally drifting into Pakistani waters. Directed by Chandoo Mondeti, Thandel is generating immense excitement, especially as Naga and Sai reunite after their successful collaboration in the 2021 hit Love Story.  

Thandel is inspired by a real-life story

At its core, Thandel is based on the harrowing experiences of fishermen from Andhra Pradesh, including one fisherman, Chodipilli Musalayya, who found himself ensnared in a life-altering nightmare. 

The film’s producer Allu Aravind recently told IANS, “This true story happened in (a place) nearby Vizag, in a small village. People had gone to Gujarat for fishing for 30 days. Unfortunately, due to some weather problem, they crossed the international borders and suddenly they realised that Pakistan people had caught them and taken them to jail. They were there for 22 years. Their families in the village — how they suffered, how they rose to bring them back, and what their struggle was — this is the story of the film.” 

Here’s everything we know about Chodipilli Musalayya and other fishermen on whose lives Thandel is inspired: 

In November 2000, 31 fishermen including Chodipilli Musalayya, just 21 years old, embarked on a deep-sea fishing trip in Gujarat, seeking a better livelihood. Late one night as Musalayya and his fellow fishermen navigated the waters, their boats inadvertently crossed an invisible border, leading them into Pakistani territory. What followed was a nightmare that would haunt them for years. At around 3 a.m., they were awoken by gunshots and swiftly surrounded by armed Pakistani Coast Guards. Within moments, the fishermen were shackled and detained, completely unaware of the devastating journey that awaited them. 

How Chodipilli Musalayya and other fishermen were caught

“In November 2000, we (about 31 fishermen) went into the deep sea in six boats  for fishing. Around 3 am, we woke up in the anchored boats after hearing loud noise and found ourselves surrounded by Pakistan Coast Guards. They took 25 fishermen into their custody and the drivers of the boats were asked to follow them. However, the boat drivers managed to escape from the Pakistan Coast Guards,” he told The New Indian Express in a 2018 interview. 

Their ordeal in jail

According to Musalayya, for the next 24 hours, they were subjected to brutal treatment on the open seas. The captives were slapped, denied food and water, and treated as criminals. Upon their arrival in Pakistan, the conditions worsened. They were moved to Karachi prison, where they encountered unimaginable suffering. Over 300 prisoners were crammed into a small room, deprived of basic necessities such as clean clothes and toiletries.  

“About 320 prisoners were stuffed in a small room in the prison during night. We did not have the space even to sit in the room. I was not given any clothes in the prison. I had to wear one pair of clothes for the whole year. The prison authorities did not even give us toothbrush for the entire period. It was a real hell in Karachi  prison where I suffered for one year, he was quoted as saying by The New Indian Express. 

Their daily sustenance consisted of minimal, underwhelming meals—one chapati with curry in the morning and two chapatis for lunch and dinner. Musalayya and his fellow prisoners were allowed to step into the prison courtyard during the day.  

“It was only after the release of some Pakistani prisoners from the jail, we used their clothes. Spending night in a packed room with little space even to move was an every day ordeal we suffered in Karachi prison for one year. However, we were allowed to move freely in the open space in the prison in daytime,” he said. 

Musalayya and his fellow fishermen were released from Karachi prison in February 2002. With no other means of livelihood, many of the fishermen, including Musalayya, had no choice but to return to the very sea that had led them into captivity. 

The movie 'Thandel' is set to bring this true story to life.