Sonakshi Sinha’s highly anticipated Telugu debut Jatadhara hit theaters on November 7, 2025, but the fantasy adventure film is receiving brutally mixed reactions from audiences. While some viewers praise its spiritual visuals, others are calling it “unbearable” with comparisons to low-budget television serials. Here’s the unfiltered truth about what moviegoers are saying.
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Jatadhara Movie Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Release Date | November 7, 2025 |
| Lead Actors | Sudheer Babu, Sonakshi Sinha |
| Director | Venkat Kalyan |
| Genre | Fantasy Mystery Action Adventure |
| Language | Telugu |
| Debut | Sonakshi Sinha’s Telugu cinema debut |
| Production | ZEE Studios South |
The Good: Spiritual Visuals & Devotional Themes
Some viewers genuinely appreciated Jatadhara’s ambition. One Twitter user praised how every frame seemed crafted with profound respect, describing the film as a “distinct spiritual melody” that’s completely enchanting. For audiences seeking devotional cinema with mythological elements, certain sequences deliver genuine spiritual resonance.
The film’s premise—blending corporate life with supernatural ghost hunting—offers an interesting modern take on traditional Indian folklore about Dhana Pisaachinis (wealth-guarding demonesses).
The Bad: “Unbearable” Execution & Poor VFX
However, the overwhelming majority of reactions skew negative. Multiple viewers used harsh terms like “completely unbearable,” citing:
Technical Failures:
- Poor VFX quality that breaks immersion
- Weak screenplay that fails to capitalize on the premise
- Questionable casting choices
- Only one to three genuinely good scenes in the entire runtime
The Damning Comparison: Perhaps the most telling criticism came from a viewer who stated, “Television serials are better than this film,” describing the two-hour experience as “torture.”
What’s the Story About?
Jatadhara follows Shiva (Sudheer Babu), a corporate employee who hunts ghosts with friends in his spare time. Despite his supernatural hobby, Shiva attributes most paranormal occurrences to human psychology rather than actual evil entities.
His skepticism shatters when recurring dreams about a child being attacked lead him to discover his life is mysteriously connected to a Dhana Pisaachini played by Sonakshi Sinha. The narrative explores his journey to uncover the demoness’s origin and how their destinies intertwine.
Cast & Crew
Beyond the leads, Jatadhara features Shilpa Shirodkar, Srinivas Avasarala, Pradeep Rawat, Indira Krishnan, Ravi Prakash, and Rohit Pathak in supporting roles. The film represents director Venkat Kalyan’s attempt to bring large-scale fantasy filmmaking to Telugu cinema.
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The Verdict: Ambitious Concept, Disappointing Delivery
The consensus suggests Jatadhara suffers from the classic problem of poor execution despite an interesting premise. Sudheer Babu reportedly chose a script with genuine potential, but inadequate VFX, weak screenplay, and direction issues prevented the vision from translating to screen effectively.
The music receives moderate praise as “acceptable,” but it’s not enough to salvage the overall experience for most viewers.
Should You Watch It?
If you’re a die-hard fan of Sudheer Babu or Sonakshi Sinha, you might find selective moments worth experiencing. However, general audiences looking for quality fantasy entertainment may want to wait for streaming or skip entirely based on early reactions.
FAQs
Is Jatadhara worth watching despite negative reviews?
It depends on your expectations. If you’re deeply interested in mythological fantasy films and can overlook technical shortcomings like poor VFX, you might appreciate the film’s spiritual themes and ambition. However, if you expect polished visual effects and tight screenplay comparable to big-budget fantasy films, the negative reviews suggest you’ll be disappointed. The “acceptable” music and one or two good scenes may not justify the ticket price for most viewers.
How does Sonakshi Sinha perform in her Telugu debut?
Early reviews focus more on technical aspects than individual performances, which is telling. While Sonakshi plays the intriguing role of Dhana Pisaachini (a wealth-guarding demoness), reviewers haven’t specifically highlighted her performance as either exceptional or problematic. The criticism centers on casting choices overall and the film’s execution rather than singling out her debut. For dedicated Sonakshi fans, it might be worth watching to form your own opinion about her Telugu cinema entry.
