Ghaati is director Krish Jagarlamudi’s latest film, starring Anushka Shetty in a powerful lead role. After nearly 15 years since their acclaimed collaboration in Vedam, Krish and Anushka reunite with high expectations. The film, set against the backdrop of the Eastern Ghats, released in theaters today.

Plot Summary:
The story begins in the Eastern Ghats, along the Andhra–Odisha border, where large-scale illegal marijuana smuggling takes place. A special strain called Sheelavathi fetches high demand in the international market. Local villagers, with no other livelihood, work as laborers carrying marijuana.

Among them are Sheelavathi (Anushka) and Desiraju (Vikram Prabhu), who come from tragic family backgrounds. Controlled by Naidu (Ravindra Vijay) and his younger brother Kundal (Chaitanya Rao), these villagers—called Ghaatis—are bound by strict rules, forbidden from working elsewhere. Sheelavathi and Desiraju fall in love and decide to marry.

Conflict arises when Desiraju questions the injustices faced by the Ghaatis, drawing the ire of Kundal, who also desires Sheelavathi. Meanwhile, police officer Vishwadeep (Jagapathi Babu) steps in to crack down on drug smuggling, uncovering new methods of trafficking. How he handles the racket, and whether Sheelavathi and Desiraju’s love story succeeds, forms the rest of the narrative.

Analysis:
The story unfolds through three perspectives—Ghaatis, smugglers, and the police department. The director attempts to portray the hardships of the villagers forced into this trade, achieving partial success.

The film starts at a brisk pace, introducing multiple characters rapidly, which makes it difficult to connect with them initially. Heroes, villains, and supporting players enter and exit without leaving much impact.

The first half focuses on exploitation and the struggles of the Ghaatis, while the second half shifts toward a social message about responsibility beyond money. However, in between the interval and climax, the film loses emotional depth, relying heavily on action that feels unnatural and forced.

Performances:
This is primarily Anushka’s film. She shoulders the story, but her character is not designed strongly enough to stand out. Vikram Prabhu, as her pair, does not register as a memorable lead. Chaitanya Rao gets a significant twist as the real villain, overshadowing senior actors like Jisshu Sengupta, Harish Peradi, and Ravindra Vijay, whose roles are underwritten.

Jagapathi Babu’s police role, though attempted differently, does not work effectively. Overall, the performances are routine, with nothing fresh in character design.

Technical Aspects:
Manoj Reddy’s cinematography stands out, beautifully capturing the Eastern Ghats’ landscapes. Vidyasagar’s music and Chanakya Reddy’s editing are serviceable but not remarkable. Despite Krish’s solid idea, the screenplay struggles with weak character arcs and an uneven narrative.

Final Verdict:
Ghaati has a strong premise and an ideal lead in Anushka Shetty. However, the storytelling lacks emotional grip, with too many irrelevant characters and underdeveloped roles weakening the impact. What could have been a hard-hitting story ends up as a decent attempt weighed down by poor execution.