Director Krish Jagarlamudi is gearing up for the release of Ghaati, his latest action drama starring Anushka Shetty and Vikram Prabhu. Presented by UV Creations and produced under the First Frame Entertainment banner, the film will hit theatres on September 5. Speaking at the film’s press meet, Krish explains why Ghaati became a project he could not resist.
“Every one of my films is like an adventure,” he says and adds, “When I first heard about the world of the Ghaatis, the labourers who carry the Shilavati variety of ganja along the Andhra–Orissa border, it felt very exciting. Their background and lifestyle were completely new to me. That gave us the chance to tell a story set in a world audiences have never seen before.”
The character of Sheelavathi, played by Anushka, is central to this fictional tale. “After Vedam, I always wanted to do another film with Sweety. When Ghaati came to me, the character of Sheelavathi was a perfect fit for Anushka’s grace, attitude and superstardom. From Arundhati to Bhaagamathie, she has given iconic performances, and this film will add another to that list,” says Krish.
He is clear that while marijuana forms the backdrop, the film is not about glorifying it. “This is a story about identity and survival. Even if people do it for survival, the consequences are very serious. Governments try to suppress it, but the issue always seeps into society. The film takes that social reality but tells it in a commercial action format,” he notes.
The scale of the film, Krish says, is immense. “This is the largest canvas I have worked on in terms of emotions, performances and locations. A dark story is only interesting when told with action, because the emotions are visible through the physical struggle of the characters,” he explains.
Casting, for him, was instinctive. “While writing Desi Raju, I immediately thought of Vikram Prabhu. He has the purity and leadership qualities that the character demands,” says Krish. On the villain, he adds, “I saw Chaitanya Rao in 30 Weds 21. Casting him as Kundula Naidu was refreshing. He surprised me by slipping into the character even while hearing the narration.”
Krish credits cinematographer Manoj Reddy with capturing the spirit of the Eastern Ghats. “The sunrises, the sunsets, the mountain ranges, he brought all that natural beauty to the screen. It was the first time we shot in some of these locations and they are extraordinary,” he says.
As for what comes next, Krish is measured. “We will announce new projects only after Ghaati. Right now, this film is everything,” he concludes.
Ghaati releases on September 5, clashing with Mouli’s Little Hearts.
