‘I Know What They Went Through In Pakistan’

‘These
people
got
caught
in
Pakistan,
and
jailed
for
a
year-and-a-half,
their
release
was
delayed
due
to
various
political
factors
that
were
happening
during
2017,
2018
and
2019.’

“I’m
looking
forward
to
this
film
shaping
my
career
in
a
completely
new
and
positive
direction,”

Naga
Chaitanya
tells

Subhash
K
Jha
about
his
new
film

Thandel.

This
is
the
first
real-life
character
of
your
career.
How
was
the
experience?

The
experience
was
very
different
from
any
of
the
previous
characters
I’ve
played.

This
film
is
inspired
from
some
true
events
of
about
22
fishermen
who
regularly
travel
from
this
village
called
Srikakulam.
They
go
all
the
way
to
Gujarat,
take
boats
on
rent
from
there
and
go
out
fishing.

Unfortunately,
on
one
trip,
they
get
caught
in
Pakistan
waters
and
put
in
jail.

They
are
in
jail
there
for
about
a
year-and-a-half
and
then
eventually
released.

Did
you
undertake
any
research
before
plunging
into
your
character?

I
went
down
to
Srikakulam
after
the
director
gave
me
the
idea
of
the
film.
It’s,
in
fact,
a
small
town
called
D
Matchilesam.

The
film
was
not
fully
scripted
then,
he
just
told
me
an
idea
in
a
very
documentary
form.

I
met
the
families,
heard
their
experiences,
challenges,
what
they
went
through
in
Pakistan
and
how
their
life
is
at
sea.

These
interactions
gave
me
a
lot
of
detailing
and
design
for
my
character.

They’re
very
inspiring
people,
so
they
motivated
me
a
lot.
They
are
the
real
heroes,
in
a
way.

If
you
listen
to
their
challenges
and
the
way
they
navigate
through
it,
it’s
very
inspiring.

Tell
us
about
it.

They
are
out
in
for
almost
25
to
30
days
in
a
month
and
once
they
are
out
there,
there’s
no
connect
with
the
world.
Even
if
there
is
some
kind
of
emergency
at
home,
they
don’t
know
about
it.

If
something
happens
on
the
boat,
they
have
to
take
care
of
themselves.
There’s
no
kind
of
network.

How
did
these
experiences
effect
you
personally?

So
many
moments
like
this
really
inspired
me.

The
soul
of
the
film
is
a
love
story
and
we
have
drawn
a
few
inspirations
from
what
they
have
said.
Obviously,
we
have
put
it
in
a
cinematic
language.

It
was
gracious
of
your

Thandel
team
to
approach
Sushma
Swaraj’s
daughter
to
get
clearance
for
using
her
name
and
presence
in
the
film.

Yes,
we
have
got
an
NOC
from
Bansuri
Swaraj
for
whatever
we
are
using
in
the
film.

I
know
what
the
fishermen
went
through
in
Pakistan
but
we
are
not
going
exactly
as
per
what
happened
because
of
various
reasons.

But
the
fact
that
these
people
got
caught
in
Pakistan,
and
jailed
for
a
year-and-a-half,
their
release
was
delayed
due
to
various
political
factors
that
were
happening
during
the
years
2017,
2018
and
2019.

I
believe
usually
they
come
out
in
a
few
months
but
their
release
got
delayed
because
of
political
conflicts
between
the
countries.

We
broadly
covered
this
in
the
film
but
did
not
go
into
the
exact
details.

This
is
also
the
first
time
you
are
playing
a
rustic
character.

Yes.
It
was
a
challenging
transformation
because
I’m
very
different
in
the
way
I
look
and
behave.
Of
course,
at
the
end
of
the
day,
it
is
the
actor’s
job
to
mould
into
character.

So
this
transformation
took
time.

Like
I
said,
a
lot
of
clarity
came
to
me
on
that
trip
to
Srikakulam,
a
lot
of
notes
happened.

I
could
come
back
and
work
with
the
director
and
detail
this
character
out.

The
biggest
challenge
about
the
transformation
was
the
slang.
I
speak
in
a
Srikakulam
slang
which
is
very
unique,
very
different
from
the
Telugu
you
hear.

Also,
their
fishing
activities
like
throwing
the
net
and
various
other
activities
on
the
boat.

There
was
a
lot
of
workshops
and
rehearsals.

This
is
your
second
film
with
Sai
Pallavi.

Working
with
Sai
Pallavi
is
always
amazing.

She
complements
your
performance
with
the
energy
she
brings
on
screen.

Also,
she’s
such
a
transparent
actor.
She’s
always
on
point
with
her
beats
and
so
clear
about
the
character.
Very,
very
involved
and
immersed
in
the
script
at
all
times.

She’s
such
a
pleasure
to
work
with.

Why
do
you
think
audiences
would
want
to
watch

Thandel?

This
love
story
is
very
different
from
what
we’ve
done
before.

The
first
film
Sai
and
I
did
together
was

Love
Story
where
it
was
more
of
a
boy
meets
girl
and
how
they
journey
from
there
and
the
conflicts
that
come
in
between.

But

Thandel
opens
with
us
in
love
and
we’re
going
through
some
conflicts
from
that
point
of
time.
So
I
would
say
it’s
a
more
mature
kind
of
treatment
from
what
you’ve
seen
us
in
before.

How
important
is

Thandel
for
your
career?

Thandel
is
extremely
important
for
me.

As
an
actor,
I’m
really
looking
forward
to
this
one.

Just
like
any
other
film
but
more
than
anything,
I’ve
journeyed
with
this
film
for
almost
two
years.

A
lot
of
effort
has
gone
into
the
characterisation,
a
lot
of
effort
has
been
put
in
by
me
to
mould
into
the
character
and
try
to
make
it
as
convincing
as
possible.

I’m
looking
forward
to
this
film
shaping
my
career
in
a
completely
new
and
positive
direction.

Also,
this
is
the
biggest
production
I’ve
been
a
part
of.