Ghaati Movie Review – Anushka Shetty’s Revenge Drama in the Eastern Ghats

Ghaati Movie Review – Plot, Cast & What Works and What Doesn’t

Story & Setting

Ghaati is a 2025 Telugu-language action crime drama directed by Krish Jagarlamudi with writing by Chintakindi Srinivas Rao. It unfolds in the Eastern Ghats along the Andhra-Odisha border, telling the story of violence, exploitation, and revenge. The Marginalised community known as the “Ghaatis” are caught up in the drug trade, forced into cannabis cultivation by the oppressive Naidu cartel. Anushka Shetty’s character, Sheelavathi, along with her cousin Desi Raju (Vikram Prabhu) tries to emancipate their people from this cycle of exploitation.

Sheelavathi’s journey from victim to criminal legend forms the emotional spine of the film. As the story progresses, the film builds on folklore, tribal identity, and justice, mixing gritty realism with mythic tones.

Director & Cast Highlights

• Anushka Shetty (Sheelavathi): She is the film’s main draw. After her recent comeback, Ghaati brings back Shetty in a “fierce” avatar, delivering emotional depth and screen presence especially in intense, action-driven sequences. Critics generally praise her performance as commanding.
• Vikram Prabhu (Desi Raju): This marks his entry into Telugu cinema. He plays Sheelavathi’s cousin and partner in resistance. While he offers credibility, some reviews suggest he is overshadowed by Shetty’s more dominant character.
• Supporting Cast:
  • Chaitanya Rao Madadi as Kundhul Naidu, the younger brother entangled in the cartel politics.
  • Ravindra Vijay as Kaastala Naidu, a stronger antagonist figure.
  • Jagapathi Babu as Vishwadeep Rao, the Police Commissioner, bringing the institutional conflict to the story.
  • Others like Jisshu Sengupta, John Vijay, Larissa Bonesi, Raju Sundaram, etc., fill out key roles.
• Technical Crew:
  • Cinematography by Manojh Reddy Katasani brings out the ruggedness of the landscape and gives life to the Eastern Ghats setting.
  • Editing by Chanakya Reddy Toorupu attempts strong pacing though critics say the second half sags.
  • Music by Nagavelli Vidya Sagar provides background score and songs that support the tone, though the score isn’t always consistent in intensity.

What Works Well

1. Anushka Shetty’s Presence: She anchors the film. Her performance in the first half, and during moments of moral conflict, is often cited as the highlight.
2. World-building & Setting: The film does well in painting the Eastern Ghats region, its cultural tension, systemic exploitation, and the lush but harsh terrain. This gives context and realism.
3. Themes of Resistance & Identity: Ghaati explores the tension between oppression and reclaiming dignity. Sheelavathi’s arc from suppression to agency is compelling.
4. Action & Visuals: Some sequences (especially in second half) are staged grandly; action choreography and set pieces carry weight.

Weaknesses / Criticisms

• Second Half Weaknesses: Critics note that after a strong buildup in the first half, the second half becomes more predictable, melodramatic, and relies heavily on tropes.
• Pacing Issues: The film drags in parts; some transitions (especially from Sheelavathi’s growth to her revenge) feel rushed or thinly explained.
• Character Depth: While Sheelavathi is well developed, some supporting characters (even antagonists) miss opportunities for depth, making parts of the conflict feel superficial.
• Climactic Execution: Though visually impactful, some find the climax overloaded with action and emotional beats, possibly diminishing its effect due to excess.

Reception & Box Office

• The film opened on 5 September 2025 in multiple languages (Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Hindi, etc.).
• Opening weekend collection in Telugu states: approx ₹4.77 crore domestically during the first three days. Day 1 was about ₹2 crore, dropping on Day 2 and further on Day 3.
• Critical reviews have been mixed: many applaud the ambition, Anushka’s performance, visuals, theme of defiance; others criticize the lack of narrative tightness in second half and overused genre elements. Averaged rating around 3.0 / 5 in several reviews.

Final Verdict

Rating: 3.0 / 5

Ghaati Movie Review shows that Krish Jagarlamudi has taken on a significant and challenging theme — marginalisation, illegal trade, rebellion, and the cost of justice — and for the most part, delivers a film with weight and intensity. Anushka Shetty redeems the film in many sequences, especially in the first half, where her character’s moral conflict is strongest.

However, the film doesn’t fully maintain the momentum; the second half’s predictability and overemphasis on melodrama reduce some of the power it builds early on. If you’re going in expecting a dark rural revenge drama with strong female lead, powerful visuals, and a sense of cultural context, Ghaati will satisfy. But if you expect tight storytelling across all acts, it might feel a bit uneven.

YoMovies – For more action-dramas, female-lead stories, and bold cinema, explore more reviews and streaming updates here.