After a 2 year gap, Anushka Shetty is back on screen with Ghaati, a female centric action thriller directed by Krish Jagarlamudi. Releasing on September 5th 2025 in multiple languages, this UV Creations and First Frame Entertainments production stars Vikram Prabhu, Chaitanya Rao, Ravindra Vijay and Jagapathi Babu in key roles. Set in the rugged Eastern Ghats, Ghaati promises a raw and intense story of survival and revenge. While Anushka’s performance and the action scenes are brilliant, the slow pace and uneven execution holds it back.
The story is about Sheelavathi (Anushka Shetty) a woman from the Ghaati tribe who are known for cannabis cultivation and smuggling. Betrayed by her business partners, Sheelavathi’s life goes haywire and she becomes a victim, then a criminal and finally a legendary figure who rises against the oppression. The story is set on the Andhra-Odisha border and is about exploitation and empowerment with the tribal community’s struggle against the criminal forces as the backdrop. Krish Jagarlamudi has infused the story with mythological undertones and has framed Sheelavathi’s journey as a symbolic fight against injustice.
Anushka Shetty is the heart of Ghaati, delivering a fierce performance that solidifies her position as a force to be reckoned with. Her never-before-seen rugged avatar is a treat, especially in the action sequences where she does her own stunts with conviction. From quiet emotional moments to explosive anger, Anushka carries the film, making Sheelavathi’s transformation from vulnerability to strength believable. Vikram Prabhu as Desi Raju is good, shares emotional depth in their scenes together, but his role feels secondary. Chaitanya Rao and Ravindra Vijay are good in their roles, Chaitanya as an antagonist is a surprise, but Jagapathi Babu as a police officer feels wasted. The rest of the cast including Jisshu Sengupta and VTV Ganesh adds nothing but to fill the frame.
Krish Jagarlamudi who is known for thought-provoking films like Vedam and Gautamiputra Satakarni goes for a raw and unpolished look that suits the rural setting. The Eastern Ghats captured by cinematographer Manojh Reddy Katasani is beautiful and earthy, production designer Thota Tharani’s detailing is authentic. The action choreography by Ram Krishan is top notch, with 8 high octane sequences that showcase Anushka’s physicality. But the screenplay falters, especially in the first half which is slow and predictable. The second half is better, thanks to Anushka’s rage fueled performance but the story is repetitive, subplots are underdeveloped and the dialogue doesn’t match Krish’s usual depth. 2 hours 35 minutes feels like a long time and Chanakya Reddy Toorupu’s editing could have been sharper to keep the momentum going.
Technically Ghaati has its ups and downs. The cinematography captures the rawness of the Ghats but some VFX work which was delayed due to production issues looks unpolished. Nagavelli Vidya Sagar’s music is a huge letdown, the background score doesn’t elevate the action or emotional scenes. The songs are minimal but feel intrusive. Sound mixing by Tapas Nayak and the Budapest orchestra adds some polish but the overall audio experience is not impactful. The film’s U/A certificate is for the intense action and emotional content but some dialogues in the first half feel jarring and out of place.
Ghaati works when it banks on Anushka’s performance and the action, especially in the second half where her character’s journey peaks. Fans are calling her the “Lady Queen Superstar” and social media is buzzing about her “wildest” performance ever. But the film struggles to balance the action, emotion and social commentary. The story of a woman’s descent into darkness and rise to legend is good on paper but feels half baked on screen with outdated narration and no new storytelling. Compared to Anushka’s previous hits like Baahubali or Bhaagamathie, Ghaati is above her recent films but below her iconic roles.
Overall Ghaati is a mixed bag—a gritty character driven drama powered by Anushka Shetty’s performance but let down by a patchy screenplay and technical issues. It’s a decent comeback for both Anushka and Krish, has enough punch to satisfy action thriller and Anushka’s fans. For those looking for a well woven story or depth of Krish’s earlier films, it will feel like a missed opportunity. Watch it for Anushka’s performance and action blocks but it’s not a legendary film its protagonist wants to be.