⭐ Rating: 2.5/5
Ghaati, the latest Telugu film directed by Krish Jagarlamudi, reunites him with Anushka Shetty, a collaboration that naturally sets high expectations. Marketed as an action-packed revenge drama, the film showcases Anushka in a powerful role, but struggles with predictability and formulaic storytelling.
Ghaati Movie Overview
- Language: Telugu
- Director: Krish Jagarlamudi
- Cast: Anushka Shetty, Vikram Prabhu, Jagapathi Babu, Ravindra Vijay, Chaitanya Rao
- Runtime: 156 minutes
- Genre: Action | Drama | Revenge
- Storyline: A woman rises against powerful forces to avenge the injustices inflicted on her and her community.
Story and Setting
Set in the Eastern Ghats around Koraput, the film uses a backdrop steeped in real-life incidents of marijuana trade and the struggles of local porters known as ghaatis. Historically exploited, these ghaatis now find themselves trapped between survival and exploitation by business tycoons and corrupt authorities.
The story follows Sheelavathy (Anushka Shetty), a bus conductor with dreams of marrying her childhood sweetheart Desi Raju (Vikram Prabhu). When tragedy strikes, she transforms into a fearless rebel determined to protect her people and seek justice. While the premise promises freshness, the narrative leans heavily on conventional revenge-drama tropes.
Performances
- Anushka Shetty once again proves why she is often called the “Queen” of Telugu cinema. Her presence is magnetic, and she commands the screen with grace and ferocity.
- Vikram Prabhu balances her intensity with a restrained, grounded performance.
- Jagapathi Babu plays a shapeshifting police officer, keeping viewers guessing about his true motives.
- Chaitanya Rao and Ravindra Vijay stand out as menacing antagonists, bringing calculated menace and flamboyance to their roles.
Despite strong performances, the film falters in its writing. The use of sexual violence as a plot device and a lingering male gaze undermines its progressive potential.
Technical Aspects
- Cinematography by Manojh Reddy Katasani beautifully captures the grandeur of the Ghats, offering sweeping visuals and intense close-ups that highlight the porters’ resilience.
- Music by Sagar Nagavelli works well in the early sequences but later gets overshadowed by the film’s overall loud tone.
- Screenplay (Krish Jagarlamudi) and Dialogues (Sai Madhav Burra) rely too much on clichés, preventing the narrative from standing out.
Strengths of Ghaati
- Anushka Shetty’s commanding screen presence
- Strong supporting performances
- Unique setting inspired by real-life struggles
- Visually stunning cinematography
Weaknesses of Ghaati
- Formulaic storytelling
- Overuse of tropes from mainstream revenge dramas
- Predictable character arcs
- Loud background score that dilutes emotional depth
Final Verdict
Ghaati begins with promise and has all the elements of a gripping action drama — a strong female lead, a socially relevant backdrop, and a talented ensemble cast. However, it ultimately falls short due to predictable writing and overused tropes.
If you’re an Anushka Shetty fan, the film is worth watching for her stellar performance. But as a complete cinematic experience, Ghaati leaves you wishing for more depth and nuance.
