Jenma Natchathiram Review: A Genre Mash That Misses the Mark

Following the critical appreciation of Oru Nodi, actor Thaman Akash teams up with director Ravivarman for Jenma Natchathiram — a film that sparked curiosity pre-release for possibly referencing the 1980s Tamil horror classic of the same name. 

The plot centers around an aspiring filmmaker (Thaman Akash) struggling to pitch his debut script while living with his pregnant wife (Malvi Malhotra) and their friends in a shared flat. Their mundane life takes a dark turn when she starts experiencing eerie paranormal phenomena.

Parallelly, Kaali Venkat plays a morally upright political aide who, in a desperate attempt to fund his daughter’s life-saving heart surgery, steals ₹57 crores from election funds and hides it in an abandoned building on Chennai’s outskirts.

How these two seemingly disconnected tracks converge forms the crux of the story, emerging supernatural horror with a political crime angle.

Director Ravivarman attempts a bold narrative, drawing threads from the classic Jenma Natchathiram and weaving them into a modern dual-genre film. While there are some well-executed jump scares and the eerie mood is sustained visually, the film suffers from a lack of tonal consistency. It wavers between a supernatural thriller and another genre twist (which we won’t spoil), creating a sense of dissonance.

Performance-wise, Thaman Akash delivers a sincere act, showing clear growth and command over emotional beats. Malvi Malhotra holds her own in the emotionally and physically demanding scenes. Kaali Venkat is competent, though his role feels familiar and underexplored. The supporting cast is functional.

Technically, the film shines in parts. The cinematography effectively captures the tense, moody atmosphere. The editing is crisp, especially in moments that require pace and tension. However, the screenplay falters occasionally, struggling to juggle the film’s layered ambitions.

While Jenma Natchathiram sets the stage with potential and intrigue, it ultimately feels more like a curtain-raiser than a complete cinematic experience. If the makers plan to expand this into a Blumhouse-style franchise, this film may serve as a decent origin chapter — but it doesn’t quite stand tall on its own.

Jenma Natchathiram has moments of thrill and intrigue, but its genre-hopping narrative holds it back from reaching its full potential. A decent setup, but not the knockout it aims to be.