| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Title | Jenma Natchathiram |
| Release Date | 18 July 2025 |
| Language | Tamil |
| Genre | Supernatural Horror Thriller |
| Director & Writer | B. Manivarman |
| Lead Cast | Taman Akshaan, Malvi Malhotra, Kaali Venkat, Munishkanth, others |
| Music | Sanjay Manickam |
| Cinematography | KG |
| Runtime | Around 2 hours |
Story & Premise
Jenma Natchathiram tries to combine horror with crime. The story weaves together two main threads:
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One thread follows Ajay (Taman Akshaan), an aspiring filmmaker, his pregnant wife Riya (Malvi Malhotra), and a group of friends staying in a villa/flat. Strange paranormal phenomena begin for Riya—nightmares, eerie occurrences, unsettling visions.
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Parallel to that is a crime track involving a politician’s aide who embezzles a large sum (₹57 crores), hiding it in an abandoned building. Ajay and his friends get entangled in trying to find this hidden money, leading them into an abandoned mill/building, where horror, betrayal, and supernatural fears combine.
The two threads are meant to intersect, with the supernatural horror elements (ghosts, satanic references, ritualistic imagery) building up suspense, while the crime-plot drives tension and moral complications.
What Works
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Interesting Premise / Genre Blend
The idea of mixing horror with crime is ambitious. There are moments when the film gives you genuine chills—some jump scares and creepy imagery are reasonably well done. The dual-track setup keeps things moving in theory. -
Performances
The lead actors show earnestness. Malvi Malhotra, in particular, handles scenes of fear and psychological stress well. Taman Akshaan is okay as the filmmaker, especially when showing his worries and conflicts. Some supporting actors also contribute suitably to moments of tension. -
Visuals & Atmosphere
Cinematography by KG brings moody lighting, dim corridors, abandoned building interiors, shadows and rituals that feel visually suggestive. The film often looks good in horror-oriented frames—even if the scares don’t always land, the look helps set an ambiance. -
Suspenseful Moments
Some of the horror sequences are effective. There are moments of dread, subtle build up of fear, good use of darkness, unexplained noises, and visual hints (doll-references, room numbers, ritual remains) that do succeed at unsettling.
What Doesn’t Work
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Screenplay Issues / Genre Confusion
The biggest drawback is in how the film tries to do too much without anchoring itself properly. It never quite decides whether it wants to be more horror, more thriller, or more crime drama. Because of this, many narrative threads feel underdeveloped, or feel like they are there just to check off genre boxes. -
Convenient Plot Holes / Weak Motivations
Certain plot-points rely heavily on “coincidence” or convenient decisions. For example, characters have opportunities to reveal important info but don’t; haunted dreams are introduced but not developed; characters behave in ways that feel forced to keep the plot going rather than realistically reacting. -
Pacing Problems
The film drags in many parts. The middle portion, especially when the characters are trapped in the abandoned building looking for money, feels stretched. Suspense dips; horror beats are infrequent, and connection between the threads slows. -
Under-used Horror Potential
While the film provides horror elements (possession dreams, satanic symbolism, ghost sightings), these often remain separate or superficial. They do not tie in well to the crime plot, so the build-up of supernatural tension doesn’t pay off fully in emotional or narrative terms. -
Emotional Impact Weak
Because character development is shallow, and the intersections between horror and personal stakes are not always strong, the emotional investment suffers. You might feel curious, maybe a bit spooked, but not deeply invested in the fates of the characters or terrified.
Overall Impression
Jenma Natchathiram is a film that has ambition, some good ideas, and moments of creepiness. It tries to be more than just a haunted house or ghost film by layering in politics, money, and crime. But the execution fails to match the ambition. Genre confusion, pacing issues, and logical gaps pull it down.
If your expectations are moderate — i.e. you want to watch horror with crime, without expecting it to be perfect or deeply scary — you may find parts of it worthwhile. But if you like horror-thrillers that are tight, fully committed to scares or mystery, this film will probably feel like a missed chance.
Final Verdict
Jenma Natchathiram is a mixed outcome. It delivers enough to make it a passable watch for horror fans who don’t need every scare to land. But it falls short of being memorable or deeply affecting.
Rating: 2 / 5