The film was released on 5 September 2025 to mixed reviews from critics.[5]
Plot
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Sheelavathi, a bus conductor, and Desi Raju (Vikram Prabhu), a medical lab technician, are childhood sweethearts. They live a simple life but dream of freeing their community from the clutches of the cannabis trade and the crushing debt it imposes. The region's drug empire is controlled by Kaastala Naidu (Ravindra Vijay) and his younger brother, Kundhul Naidu (Chaitanya Rao Madadi) - ruthless domineering brothers who are the primary exploiters of the Ghaatis. Driven by the desire for quick, large-scale wealth to clear Desi Raju's debts and help their people, Sheelavathi persuades Desi Raju to use his scientific knowledge. They devise a plan to process and smuggle a more potent and discreet form of the drug—liquid cannabis (or cannabis oil)—thereby bypassing the Naidu brothers' direct control over the traditional leaf smuggling route. This strain is cryptically linked to Sheelavathi's namesake. The couple's covert operation is hugely successful, quickly bringing in crores and upsetting the power dynamics of the Naidu cartel. The Naidu brothers, initially posing as potential business partners, realise the threat Sheelavathi and Desi Raju's new enterprise poses to their monopoly, especially as they themselves are trying to secure the liquid-based cannabis trade.
The conflict escalates, and the Naidu brothers launch a brutal, targeted attack against the couple and their community, showing up on the day of Sheelavathi and Desi Raju's wedding and as a turning point immediately following their success. In a pivotal and devastating event that serves as the interval point, Desi Raju is murdered by the Naidu brothers' gang. The attack also inflicts deep personal trauma and humiliation on Sheelavathi and the Ghaati community, leading to Sheelavathi's dramatic transformation. Fueled by grief, pain, and a fierce desire for justice, Sheelavathi casts aside her simple life. She begins a journey of vengeance, carrying out a ruthless campaign against the Naidu brothers and the entire system—including complicit police officers like Inspector Bhupathi Raja (played by John Vijay) and high-level corporate figures such as Mr. Mandhani (Jisshu Sengupta)—who exploit the Ghaatis. Sheelavathi uses brute force, strategic action, and her deep knowledge of the terrain to strike back. She evolves into an 'Iron-Fisted Protector' and a 'Rebel Queen,' commanding respect and fear. The narrative culminates in a fiery, final confrontation (a "showdown") with the main antagonist, Kundhul Naidu. While the climax resolves the personal revenge arc, Sheelavathi's journey transcends mere vengeance. Her ultimate purpose becomes the liberation and reclamation of her community. The film concludes with Sheelavathi realizing that true justice lies not just in revenge, but in breaking the cycle of exploitation entirely. She takes a final stand to stop the ganja business and aims to lead the Ghaatis towards an honest and dignified life, fulfilling the mission and vision she shared with the late Desi Raju.
On 19 March 2024, the project was announced at an Amazon Prime Video showcase event with the release of the first look.[6][7] On 7 November 2024, the makers released a Poster and 47-second glimpse of the film on the occasion of Anushka Shetty's birthday.[8][9][10] The makers announced the release date of the film with an intriguing video on 15 December 2024.[11][12]
Casting
On 15 January 2025, an announcement was made regarding the debut of Vikram Prabhu in Telugu cinema portraying the role of Desi Raju.[13]
Release
Theatrical
Ghaati was released on 5 September 2025.[14] The film was originally planned to release on 18 April 2025, but was postponed to 11 July 2025, before being postponed to its current date.[15][16][17][18]
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