Jatadhara review: Sudheer Babu, Sonakshi Sinha film is choppy, chaotic

Speaking of, how does a film in 2025 justify these long-drawn rituals, where black-robed tantrics, with elaborate markings and hollow-eyed skulls surrounding the ‘havan kund’ shout– ek aur bali! And a string of poor creatures are led in with humans cleaving their heads?

The film is meant to be based on the ‘powers’ that an actual temple is famous for, so the filmmakers can claim that it is a representation of a real-life phenomenon, but if the entire film is strewn with superstitious mumbo jumbo, it becomes skewed.

The actual plot, such as there is, kicks in only in the second half, when horrific secrets from Shiva’s past are revealed. A greedy aunt’s (Shilpa Shirodkar) obsession with wealth leads to tragedy; it also brings to the fore Dhanapishachini, a demoness dripping in gold, played by Sinha. The make-up department clearly has its task cut out: every single time she appears, Sinha is togged out in her elaborate costume, clicking her teeth in lieu of speaking dialogue. She participates in song-and-dances, and snarls at humans who refuse to do her bidding. And that’s about it.

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Somewhere in this choppy, chaotic enterprise is a film which wants to warn us about the evils of greed, and the importance of tradition. But it is basically yet another Sudheer Babu star vehicle, in which he romances, dances, and chases bad spirits away. Any damage to our ears is strictly our responsibility.

Jatadhara movie cast: Sudheer Babu, Sonakshi Sinha, Divya Khossla, Shilpa Shirodkar, Indira Krishnan, Rajeev Kanakala, Ravi Prakash
Jatadhara movie director: Venkat Kalyan
Jatadhara movie rating: Two stars