Jatadhara (2025) Movie ft. Shilpa, Sonakshi, and Sudheer
When Sonakshi Sinha decided to make her Telugu cinema debut, she picked an ambitious project. Jatadhara pairs her with Sudheer Babu in a supernatural story that tries mixing mythology with modern mystery. Directors Venkat Kalyan and Abhishek Jaiswal built their film around the secrets of the Anantha Padmanabha Swamy Temple, weaving in tales of black magic and ancient curses.
The film hit screens on November 7, 2025, playing in both Hindi and Telugu. Zee Studios and Prerna Arora backed this production. Running slightly over two hours, the movie carries an ‘A’ certificate because of its mature content. Early responses show people split down the middle—some find the story fresh, others can’t look past what doesn’t work.
The Story
Shiva works a regular office job but spends his free time chasing ghosts. The twist? He doesn’t actually believe in them. He thinks fear lives inside people’s heads, not in haunted houses. This skeptic goes from place to place trying to prove there’s nothing supernatural about these so-called cursed spots.
But Shiva keeps seeing the same dream. A woman trying to hurt a baby. He can’t shake it off. His parents warn him, his girlfriend begs him to stop, but he pushes ahead anyway. Then he visits Rudraram, a village everyone told him to avoid. That’s when things get real.
How The Actors Deliver
Sudheer Babu throws himself into playing Shiva. You can see his effort, especially during the Shiva Tandavam sequence where he dances with real intensity. He’s built his career on picking different kinds of roles. This time, though, I felt the weak script held him back from showing what he could really do. His transformation from non-believer to someone facing actual demons comes through, but the material doesn’t give him enough room to breathe.
What Works
Let me be fair. The basic idea has merit. Using Indian folklore and temple mysteries as the foundation for a thriller is smart. The concept of Dhana Pishaachi protecting treasure through curses—that’s interesting material. Different from the usual possession stories that flood the market.
The Shiva Tandavam sequence stands out. Sudheer Babu commits fully, and you feel that devotional energy come through. The filmmakers also deserve credit for doing real Tantric rituals during shoots. They brought in actual practitioners to ensure accuracy. That dedication shows in certain scenes, even if the film as a whole doesn’t benefit from it.
How Critics Responded
Film critics haven’t been kind. IMDb users rated it 5.6 out of 10, showing mixed feelings at best. Professional reviewers went harder. 123Telugu gave it 2.25 stars, calling the film tiresome despite good performances. GreatAndhra dropped it to 1.5 stars, using words like “clueless” and “boring” in their writeup.
Final Word
Jatadhara had the ingredients for something special. A fresh concept rooted in Indian mythology. Two capable lead actors. A story asking real questions about faith versus reason. Somewhere between conception and execution, it all fell apart. Poor direction, weak effects, and a screenplay that needed serious work turned potential into disappointment.
Sudheer Babu tries hard and Sonakshi Sinha brings real presence, but they’re fighting an uphill battle. The technical work can’t support what they’re trying to do. The editing, sound, and especially the visual effects undermine every attempt at building atmosphere. When a supernatural thriller can’t make you believe in its supernatural elements, it’s already lost.
Rating: 2/5
