Jatadhara dares to step into new territory — it mixes mythology, science, and the supernatural in a way that feels both ambitious and refreshing. Directed by Venkat Kalyan and Abhishek Jaiswal, the story takes us to the mysterious Ananta Padmanabha Swamy Temple, where an ancient ritual called Pishacha Bandhanam binds spirits to protect hidden treasures. Into this world walks Shiva (Sudheer Babu), a ghost hunter who believes only in logic and science — until he encounters something that defies everything he’s ever believed in.
Sudheer Babu delivers one of his most unassuming performances here. He is, in fact, showing the audience his inner conflict as he tries to understand the incomprehensible in his surroundings. Sonakshi Sinha, making her Telugu debut as the angry ghost Dhana Pishachi, appears wild and spooky. She is not endowed with a powerfully written character, but her being is so powerful that she can easily leave her mark. The supporting actors Divya Khosla, Indira Krishna, and Shilpa Shirodkar, despite their minimal roles, still manage to infuse their characters with sincerity.
Sameer Kalyani, the cinematographer, made the film visually spectacular. Magical is the enhancement of the sound by Rajeev Raj in the background, particularly in the case of the Shiv Stotram scene. Although the VFX is, by and large, commendable, a few scenes suffer from a lack of finish.
At first, the film is very engaging, but it loses some of its impact and gradually slows. It was a bit disappointing to see that the philosophical battle between science and spirit — the film’s principal idea — was not treated with greater profundity. The application of some scissor work would have made the film more concise and thus more absorbing.
However, Jatadhara, produced by Zee Studios and Prerna Arora, deserves credit for doing something out of the ordinary. It is not a perfect movie; nevertheless, it is full of life, eye-catching moments, and good craft. Viewers who enjoy films that blend mythology and mystery should definitely give it a shot!
IWMBuzz rates it 3/5 stars.
