Jenma Natchathiram Movie Review: An ambitious genre mash-up that falls short

Following his impressive turn in Oru Nodi, Thaman Akash headlines Jenma Natchathiram, a film that stirred early curiosity by sharing its title with a 1990s Tamil horror classic. Directed by Ravivarman, the film dares to merge supernatural horror with political crime drama – but unfortunately, the execution doesn’t live up to the promise.

The plot attempts to juggle two threads: a filmmaker (Thaman) navigating creative struggles amid paranormal chaos at home, and a morally upright political aide (Kaali Venkat) who embezzles ₹57 crores for his daughter’s surgery. The narrative teases a grand convergence, but when it finally comes, it feels forced and underwhelming.

Despite a few well-crafted jump scares and decent atmospheric cinematography, Jenma Natchathiram suffers from tonal confusion. It lurches between horror and socio-political thriller, never fully committing to either. The writing lacks depth, the twists don’t land, and characters feel underdeveloped.

Thaman Akash and Malvi Malhotra try their best, but even sincere performances can’t rescue a film that feels more like a concept pitch than a cohesive story. Kaali Venkat is sadly wasted in a role that promises much but delivers little.

Technically competent yet emotionally hollow, Jenma Natchathiram is more frustrating than frightening. For all its ambition, it ends up as a muddled experiment that forgets to tell a compelling story.

Overall, Jenma Natchathiram is a missed opportunity – and one that, despite flashes of intrigue, fails to haunt or thrill.

Jenma Natchathiram Movie Rating: 2/5