Jatadhara, starring Sonakshi Sinha, Sudheer Babu, Divya Khosla Kumar, and Shilpa Shirodkar, attempts to weave a story around ancient folklore, faith, and horror. Unfortunately, what could have been an intriguing supernatural tale ends up being an endurance test. By the time the 132-minute runtime wraps up, relief becomes the most dominant emotion in the theatre.
The Premise: Folklore Meets Folly
Set against the backdrop of rural legends, Jatadhara explores an old belief where greedy landlords summon a pishachi (demon) to guard their wealth through occult rituals. However, the demon demands sacrifices — sometimes a hen, sometimes a goat, and sometimes, disturbingly, a human.
In the film, Shilpa Shirodkar’s character, Shobha, makes a deadly bargain with the demon Dhanpishachani (played by Sonakshi Sinha), but fails to fulfill her end of the deal. As expected, tragedy strikes — every member of her family dies, leaving behind a lone child who grows up to be a ghost hunter, played by Sudheer Babu.
And that’s when the plot — and logic — start to unravel.
Performances and Writing: A Haunted Mess
While Sonakshi Sinha tries to lend gravitas to her demonic role, the weak writing leaves her stranded. Shilpa Shirodkar, returning to the screen, brings a certain intensity but is weighed down by inconsistent direction. Sudheer Babu has little to work with, despite being positioned as the savior figure.
The dialogues are unintentionally funny, the scares predictable, and the pacing painfully slow. What’s worse — the emotional stakes never land. Instead of feeling fear or tension, the audience is left wondering why the film exists in the first place.
Direction and Cinematic Vision: Where Conviction Goes Missing
The problem with Jatadhara isn’t just the script — it’s the lack of conviction. When working with mythological horror, belief is everything. The story needs to make the unbelievable feel real, rooted in cultural truth. Sadly, Jatadhara never establishes that connection.
For context, India has produced successful folklore-inspired horror in recent years — films like Stree and Bhediya balance humor, myth, and fear while keeping audiences invested. Jatadhara tries to emulate that formula but forgets to include heart and purpose.
Verdict: Horror in All the Wrong Ways
With its chaotic narrative, inconsistent tone, and non-existent scares, Jatadhara ends up being a horror film for all the wrong reasons. It’s a missed opportunity that neither celebrates our folklore nor entertains the viewer.
