Jarann Movie Review
Rating: 
1/2
Director: Rishikesh Gupte
Cast: Amruta Subhash, Anita Date Kelkar, Kishore Kadam, Rajan Bhise, Jyoti Malshe, Seema Deshmukh
Music: A V Prafullachandra
Jarann Movie Review
In a sea of horror comedies, Jarann dares to bring back pure horror. Directed by Rishikesh Gupte and presented by Anees Bazmee, this Marathi film explores black magic — Jarann in Marathi — with a psychological twist. The movie stars powerhouse performers Amruta Subhash, Anita Date Kelkar, Rajan Bhise, and Seema Deshmukh. The music, by A V Prafullchandra, adds eerie layers to the experience.
The story follows Radha, played by Amruta Subhash, who is battling personal grief. As a child, she was believed to be under a black magic spell cast by the village witch Ganguti (Anita Date Kelkar). Now, years later, she returns to her ancestral wada with her daughter, Sai. Haunted by her past and treated by psychiatrist Dr. Kulkarni (Kishor Kadam), Radha’s fears begin to resurface. So does Ganguti.
The plot tries to straddle two worlds — psychological thriller and supernatural horror. This creates confusion. But Amruta Subhash is outstanding. Her expressions alone convey terror, trauma, and inner turmoil. Her performance is a lesson in acting for horror films.
The sound design is another winner. The team avoids typical horror tropes and delivers a soundscape that feels fresh yet spine-chilling. The camera work supports this. Tight frames and dimly lit scenes build suspense effectively.
Anita Date Kelkar gets limited screen time, but leaves a mark. Her portrayal of Ganguti is gripping. She uses her body language and dialogue delivery to embody the classic witch figure with realism. She steals every frame she’s in.
The climax lifts the film. It ties together superstition, psychology, grief, and possession in a dramatic reveal. But the script tries to do too much. It talks about parenting, belief systems, rationality, and the modern world. This waters down the core horror narrative.
The direction is inconsistent. Some characters, especially Radha’s parents and sisters, feel underwritten or confusing. Still, strong performances and technical brilliance keep the film from collapsing under its own weight.
In the end, Jarann manages to scare, shock, and hold your attention. It’s not perfect, but it’s refreshing to see a Marathi film embrace horror with sincerity. The effort is commendable.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
