If a movie today has AI-generated visuals, VFX-heavy sequences, Sanatan Dharma references, horror elements, a devotional angle, special songs, an all-India cast and a climax teaser hinting at a part two – congratulations, you’ve got yourself a modern “Pan-India” movie. ‘Jatadhara’ starring Sudheer Babu and Sonakshi Sinha checks almost every box on that list, except the one that really matters: filmmaking.

The story centers on Shiva (Sudheer Babu), a corporate employee who is so brilliant that his big “innovation” pitch in a meeting is to control all devices through a mobile phone – an idea Silicon Valley probably retired a decade ago. Outside of work, he is also a ghost hunter with his group of friends. Troubled by recurring dreams of an attacked child, Shiva discovers that his fate is mysteriously linked to that of Dhana Pisachini (Sonakshi Sinha). As he delves deeper, he discovers shocking truths about his origins and the forces that connect him to this mythical creature.

Directed by Venkat Kalyan and Abhishek Jaiswal, ‘Jatadhara’ is a supernatural mystery thriller that shows promise on paper – rooted in Indian folklore and centered on the legend of Dhan Pisachini, a demon who guards wealth. The premise is interesting, but the story never lives up to its ambition. What unfolds on screen is a jumbled mixture of half-baked ideas, technical glitches and missed opportunities.

The first part feels aimless, filled with random sequences that neither create tension nor develop the characters. The film moves from one idea to another and there is no continuity between scenes or even shots. The editing is poor, the changes are sudden, and the emotional beats are completely missing. You keep waiting for the story to take direction, but it never happens.

By the time the second part begins, a glimmer of hope appears. The flashback episode featuring Shilpa Shirodkar, who performs with conviction in an otherwise underwritten role, teases a more intense, darker film. Yet that promise quickly fades as the screenplay fails to deliver. What could have been an entertaining horror mystery thriller about trust, fear and greed turns out to be a jumble of clichés.

The stakes associated with Dhana Pisachini’s alleged “power” or Shiva’s quest are never clearly defined. Even the climax, which could have tied everything together, falls apart amid disjointed VFX and clumsy execution.

Technically, ‘Jatadhara’ struggles on almost every front. The visuals are generic, and the CGI work – especially in the key supernatural scenes – holds up surprisingly well. Basic masking and rotoscoping errors come to the fore, making 20 year old movies like ‘Murari’ or ‘Sri Anjaneyam’ look far better in comparison. The editing feels inconsistent, and the production design does little to create an atmospheric world for this kind of story. The background score is serviceable but forgettable, while the songs seem forced, breaking whatever rhythm the narrative had.

However, Sudheer Babu gives whatever strength he can to the film. His sincerity is visible everywhere – be it the emotional scenes, the action stretches, or the final dance sequence. You can sense his commitment to choosing challenging subjects, even if the films don’t always do justice to his efforts. ‘Jatadhara’ is no different: you understand why they chose it, even if the execution let them down.

Sonakshi Sinha plays Dhana Pisachini prominently in the second part, and it brings a certain gravitas to her presence. The role has potential – a commanding, morally gray entity torn between divinity and darkness – but the writing gives him very little to work with. Most of his scenes are limited to shouting from the throne, which are rendered lifeless due to uninspired staging. His mannerisms and look seem derived from old horror templates like ‘Kanchana’ rather than being reimagined for today’s audience.

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Among the supporting cast, Rajeev Kanakala makes some emotional impact as Shiva’s father, although his character is underutilized. Divya Khosla as Sitara does not leave any impact. Indira Krishna, Jhansi and Srinivas Avasarala, among others, are part of this group. No one was given enough space to make an impact.

Here is the trailer:

The deeper issue with ‘Jatadhara’ is not just poor execution; This is lack of intention. There is no emotional or narrative backbone. The film tosses around words like “belief,” “fear,” and “energy” but never commits to exploring what they mean. The Shiva integration and Tandava sequence in the climax feels forced and unnecessary, more like cashing in on current trends than actual expansion of the story.

In the end, ‘Jatadhara’ feels like a film crafted from a checklist rather than a script. Sudheer Babu and Sonakshi Sinha try their best to rise above the chaos, but inconsistent direction, flat writing and weak technicality leave little room for redemption. There’s actually an interesting concept buried in here somewhere – about hidden treasure, human sacrifice and the myth of Dhana Pisachini, but it gets lost in the noise of bad filmmaking.

‘Jatadhara’ 1.5 out of 5