Jatadhara Review: A tedious watch
What’s “Jatadhara” about?
Shiva (Sudheer Babu) works at a corporate company, but his real passion lies elsewhere: proving that ghosts don’t exist. He visits various haunted places to record evidence and debunk paranormal claims. However, he is haunted by a recurring dream of a baby in a cradle and someone attempting to kill the child.
When Shiva learns that his parents are not his biological ones, the truth behind his dream begins to unfold. He soon discovers a connection to Dhana Pisachi (Sonakshi Sinha), a powerful demon. The man who never believed in the supernatural must now confront it head-on. Will he be able to face the dark forces he once denied?
Analysis
“Jatadhara” translates to Lord Shiva. The protagonist’s name is also Shiva, and there is indeed a Lord Shiva connection toward the end. But if you assume it’s a devotional film, stop right there. It is neither devotional nor a proper horror drama. The film lacks a coherent plot, and the narration by the director duo is so amateurish that you feel exhausted halfway through.
The story touches upon an interesting concept: how people once hid their wealth and ornaments in “Lanke Bindelu” (treasure pots) underground to protect them from thieves, similar to the treasures preserved in the Padmanabhaswamy Temple using Nagabandhanam. Unfortunately, this intriguing idea never translates well on screen.
The entire first half plays out like a series of random scenes with Sudheer Babu visiting haunted locations and having recurring dreams. When he isn’t on screen, an unnecessary item song pops up. The introduction of the female lead, played by Divya Khosla, and her love track with the hero are so poorly written and dull that they only expose the weak storytelling further.
It appears the directors lack even the basics of screenwriting. Even if one assumes the second half is meant to carry the main story while the first half serves as buildup, the core narrative still remains weak and poorly executed.
The climax, featuring Sudheer Babu’s Tandavam sequence set against a “Himalayan” backdrop and Lord Shiva’s descent, is marred by cheap visual effects and fails to evoke any sense of devotion or grandeur.
The writing, direction, music, and editing are all below par. Sudheer Babu puts in sincere effort, especially in the final act, but the role gives him little scope to shine. Sonakshi Sinha, in her Telugu debut as Dhana Pisachi, looks good but leaves no impression due to weak characterization and ineffective presentation.
Bottom-line: “Jatadhara” is not only boring but also exhausting, with its subpar narration and poor technical standards.
Rating: 2/5
By Jalapathy Gudelli
Movie: Jatadhara
Cast: Sudheer Babu, Sonakshi Sinha, Shilpa Shirodkar, Indira Krishna, Ravi Prakash, Jhansi, and others
Dialogues: Sai Krishna Karne, Shyam Babu Meriga
Director of Photography: Sameer Kalyani
Editor: Karthika Srinivas
Producers: Umesh Kumar Bansal, Shivin Narang, Aruna Agarwal, Prerna Arora, Shilpa Singhal, Nikhil Nanda
Written and directed by: Venkat Kalyan and Abhishek Jaiswal
Release Date: November 7, 2025