Ghaati is a raw revenge drama directed by Krish Jagarlamudi, starring Anushka Shetty as Sheelavathi and Vikram Prabhu as Desi Raju. The film explores the transformation of a betrayed woman into a feared legend along the notorious Andhra-Odisha border, blending tribal folklore with themes of survival and resilience.
Story and Narrative
Set amidst the eastern ghats, Ghaati follows Sheelavathi, a bus conductor whose world turns upside down after treachery by her own tribe. Sheelavathi’s journey from victimhood to vengeance is marked by her struggle against criminals, drug lords, and corrupt authorities. Desi Raju, her cousin and a technician, gets entangled in the mafia’s search for the “Ghaatis”—native experts in illegal trades. The plot links tribal culture, smuggling, and personal revenge, but falls short of emotional depth.
Performances
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Anushka Shetty delivers a tough performance, adding intensity to her role, but her character feels underwritten and lacks impactful moments.
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Vikram Prabhu makes a confident Telugu debut, but the script doesn’t allow for strong audience connection.
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Jagapathi Babu, Chaitanya Rao, Ravindra Vijay, Jisshu Sengupta, Larissa Bonesi and others in the supporting cast fit well in the tribal setting but lack memorable arcs.
Technical Aspects
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The direction favors gritty realism with rough landscapes and mythological symbolism, but pacing is inconsistent, dragging in the first half and missing emotional highs.
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The background score is unnecessarily loud, and songs feel like filler rather than organic additions.
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Production values are solid, giving the film a lived-in feel, but underdeveloped subplots and a confusing narrative hurt the overall impact.
Bottom Line
Ghaati attempts a hard-hitting story with folklore and action but suffers from weak writing, flat drama, and underdeveloped characters. Despite Anushka Shetty’s sincere efforts, the film remains a loud, uneven revenge saga with little emotional resonance.
Rating: ⭐⭐ (2/5)
A disappointing watch for most, except maybe die-hard fans of Anushka Shetty and gritty action setups.
