Movie: Ghaati
Rating: 2/5
Banner: First Frame Entertainments, UV Creations
Cast: Anushka Shetty, Vikram Prabhu, Chaitanya Rao Madadi, Jagapathi Babu, Raghav Rudra Mulpuru, Jisshu Sengupta, John Vijay, Ravindra Vijay, Devika Priyadarshini, Larissa Bonesi, and others
Story: Chintakindi Srinivas Rao
Dialogues: Sai Madhav Burra
Music: Sagar Nagavelli
DOP: Manojh Reddy Katasani
Art: Thota Tharrani
Editor: Venkata Swamy Nakka, Chanakya Reddy Toorupu
Action: Ram Krishna
Produced by: Rajeev Reddy, Sai Babu Jagarlamudi
Written and Directed by: Krish Jagarlamudi
Release Date: September 5, 2025
“Ghaati” marks the second collaboration between director Krish Jagarlamudi and Anushka Shetty after Vedham. With Krish’s reputation as a filmmaker of substance and Anushka’s stature as one of the leading female stars, the film has naturally stirred considerable buzz. Adding to the momentum, Prabhas and Allu Arjun extended their support on social media.
Let’s see where the film scores and where it falters.
Story:
Sheelavathi (Anushka) and Desiraju (Vikram Prabhu), both belonging to the Ghaati community of the Eastern Ghats, dream of getting married once the latter’s debts are cleared.
Sheelavathi earns a living as a bus conductor, while Desiraju works as a lab technician. Their region, however, is notorious for cannabis cultivation and smuggling, which has long been the primary livelihood of the Ghaatis.
Sheelavathi persuades Desiraju to put his scientific knowledge to use by developing a liquid variant of cannabis and selling it in secret. Their covert operation turns highly profitable, bringing them crores within a year.
But their success attracts the attention of Kaasthala Naidu and Kundulu Naidu, two brothers who control the local cannabis trade. Initially, the brothers pose as partners, but they eventually betray the couple — murdering Desiraju.
The story then shifts to a crucial question: will Sheelavathi rise to avenge Desiraju’s death and the insult inflicted on her, or will she transform into the leader her community desperately needs?
Artistes’ Performances:
Anushka Shetty delivers a decent performance as Sheelavathi, but the writing lets her down. Despite a couple of heroic moments in action sequences, the character never truly connects on an emotional level. For an actress of her stature, this role comes across as far too simplistic.
Vikram Prabhu gets some scope in the first half, while Chaitanya Rao Maddadi, cast as the main villain, gives it an earnest shot. Yet, he looks miscast, and the role itself lacks freshness or menace.
Ravinder Vijay, playing his brother, goes through the motions. Larissa fits well as the corporate woman, whereas Jagapathi Babu as a police officer is strictly functional.
Jisshu Sengupta’s casting is baffling — his presence is limited to a couple of fleeting appearances with nothing to do.
John Vijay once again repeats his familiar act, while Raju Sundaram turns up in yet another flashy-guy role.
Technical Excellence:
The film has been shot extensively in Odisha, and the beauty of the Eastern Ghats is captured splendidly by the cinematographer. The visuals stand out as a major highlight, with the unexplored locations lending rich texture and authenticity to the setting.
On the other hand, the music is a complete letdown — none of the songs make any impression. The background score is passable at best.
Production values, however, are top-notch. The real stumbling blocks lie in the uneven screenplay and sluggish pacing, which dilute the impact of the film.
Highlights:
Anushka Shetty
Background of the setting/visuals
Couple of action blocks
Drawback:
Uneven screenplay
Lack of gripping narration
No high emotional moments
Music
Analysis
Sukumar’s Pushpa series, set on the Andhra–Tamil Nadu border, chronicled the rise of a red sanders smuggler and unabashedly glorified him. Krish, meanwhile, turns his lens to another border region of the same state and another illicit trade.
In Ghaati, the focus shifts to cannabis cultivation in the Eastern Ghats along the Andhra–Odisha border and the smuggling racket around it. Unlike Pushpa, this film makes no attempt to glamorize the trade. Instead, it presents Anushka Shetty first as a victim, then as a legend within her community.
But here lies the contrast. Pushpa delivered riveting cinema with a pulsating soundtrack and electrifying moments. Ghaati has none of that. It lacks cinematic highs, emotional depth, gripping drama, and memorable music.
The film opens by depicting the Ghaati community and their dependence on cannabis cultivation and trade. The first half largely revolves around Anushka and her cousin (Vikram Prabhu) as they confront two villains who control the business. Yet the writing leaves glaring gaps. Anushka suddenly insisting that Vikram Prabhu enter smuggling feels unconvincing, and their overnight leap to â¹100 crore earnings is laughably simplistic. Even after amassing such wealth, her continued lament about his debts borders on the absurd.
Krish appears uncertain about how to position this drama. The supposed turning point arrives at the interval when Anushka shifts from victim to leader. But even this “big moment” feels tired and overused, a trope seen countless times before.
In the second half, the only sequence that generates some interest is Raju Sundaram attempting to transport Anushka down a ropeway to escape the villain’s gang. Beyond that, the narrative collapses. Neither her quest for vengeance nor her attempt to reform her community is engaging.
The film never decides whether it wants to showcase Anushka as a transformative leader or as a revenge-driven queen. By the time it ends with a routine, message-heavy conclusion, it has already lost its grip.
While Krish manages to stage a few stylish action sequences with Anushka, his screenplay falters at every step. The film lacks his signature emotional touch, and the dialogues come across as formulaic and uninspired.
On the whole, Ghaati is a letdown despite Anushka’s presence in the lead role. It suffers from formulaic writing, lack of conviction, and absence of emotional drive.
Bottom-line: Disappointment