Directors: Venkat Kalyan, Abhishek Jaiswal
Writer: Venkat Kalyan
Starring: Sudheer Babu, Sonakshi Sinha, Divya Khossla, Shilpa Shirodkar, Indira Krishna, Rajeev Kanakala, Ravi Prakash, Rohit Pathak, Jhansi, Subhalekha Sudhakar
Duration: 135 Minutes
 
Jatadhara is an audacious attempt to blend the mystique of ancient rituals with contemporary skepticism in the realm of supernatural thrillers. Helmed by Venkat Kalyan and Abhishek Jaiswal, this mythological thriller weaves a chilling tale that draws the viewer right into the inner core of spiritualism, black magic, and the fight between reason and faith. With its haunting visuals, great acting, and philosophical undercurrent, Jatadhara calls for your attention-no doubt about that-but it does stray into familiar territory at places.
 
Against the mysterious backdrop of Kerala's Anantha Padmanabha Swamy Temple, Jatadhara uses real tantric rituals and chants that make the film both immersive and unsettling in equal measure. The directors do deserve credit here for handling such a potent, dense theme with a delicate balance of reverence and cinematic artistry, something rarely seen in mainstream Indian cinema.
 
At the heart of this supernatural horror stands Sudheer Babu, who plays Shiva, a ghost hunter deeply skeptical about anything that is beyond science. His transition from disbelief to spiritual awakening is the core emotional element of the film. Babu is at his best here, infusing calm intensity into his role and eerily capturing the crisis within a man who was forced to confront forces beyond his comprehension. His encounters with the paranormal, equipped with both scientific tools and ancient rituals, create some of the film’s most gripping sequences.
 
However, it is Sonakshi Sinha who runs away with the film, playing Dhana Pisaachi-a vengeful spirit bound by greed and sorrow. This is Sinha's Telugu debut, and she makes an explosive impact. Her portrayal of the demonic goddess, shifting between terror and tragedy, is a performance to remember. Her chilling transformation into a deity driven by malevolent forces is amongst the most talked-about moments in the film, and rightly so. It's her physicality and commanding presence that carry the film's darker themes with unnerving precision.
 
There's Divya Khosla as Sitara, adding a gentle dignity and emotional resonance to her role in support of Sinha. The supporting cast, comprising Shilpa Shirodkar, Indira Krishna, Rajeev Kanakala, and Subhalekha Sudhakar, all turn in persuasive performances, giving much-needed real value to this otherwise fantastic film. The 'normal' people and their reactions to the crisis elevate the supernatural plot.
 
The screenplay, written by Venkat Kalyan, grounds the film in ancient lore but does not balk at using a modern perspective to tell the story. Jatadhara dwells on Pisacha Bandhanam, an ancient ritual that binds spirits to guard hidden treasures, but the tale goes deeper into the existential and philosophical. The tussle that is always on between blind faith and rationalism becomes the intellectual hook of the story, which has been cleverly underpinned with powerful dialogues, like: "Faith is not what you see -- it's what you dare to feel."
 
Visually, the film is a masterpiece, with Sameer Kalyani’s breathtaking cinematography. From the dimly lit interiors of the temple to the aerial shots of the Kerala landscape, the way the film is shot is almost like a dream-dim, mysterious, and hypnotic. The play of light and shadow is intricate inside the temple with its labyrinthine corridors and eerie rituals, placing the viewer inside a world wherein the dividing line between real and unreal dissolves smoothly. Every frame is a work of art, replete with symbolic imagery that draws one into its dark, trance-like state.
 
Equally effective is the sound design, which elevates this eerie atmosphere. From low, resonating hums to subtle, otherworldly chanting, no stone has been left unturned in the audio landscape of Jatadhara. Composer Rajiv Raj does an excellent job of fusing classical ragas with a modern electronic undertone, especially at key moments, building tension and drawing the viewer deeper into the story.
 
Where the film scores is in its novelty of fusing traditional dance and action choreography. The temple dance sequence, with Divya Khossla in the lead, incorporates ritual movements with cinematic choreography to turn the set-piece into an intense and visceral experience. Likewise, the fight pieces—combining martial arts with supernatural forces—are dynamic and new, bringing a sense of urgency in this generally slow-burning thriller. The film's strength lies in its ability to marry commercial spectacle with serious artistic expression. 
 
Jatadhara uses a supernatural mythological framework to explore themes of grief, redemption, and the eternal clash between belief and reason. The narrative is ambitious, and the directors manage to balance suspense and spectacle with thought-provoking themes. However, its occasional pacing issues and reliance on familiar tropes keep it from being truly groundbreaking. 
 
A bold cinematographic experiment produced by Zee Studios and Prerna Arora, Jatadhara is a film that challenges its audience to ponder the true meaning of faith, science, and the supernatural. It promises a visual and emotional spectacle. With great performances, a very different story, and beautiful visuals, this might not be everyone's film, but it will leave a mark.