Ghaati Shooting Spot Becomes Crowd Puller Overnight Sensation

Films often change the fate of places. Years ago, Yash Chopra’s romantic stories turned Switzerland into a dreamland for Indian audiences. Today, something similar is happening much closer to home. The thriller Ghati, released on the 5th of this month, is not only earning appreciation for its story but also bringing unexpected attention to the Andhra–Odisha border. Directed by Krish Jagarlamudi, the film features Anushka Shetty in the lead along with Vikram Prabhu, Jagapathi Babu, Chaitanya Rao, and Jisshu Sengupta.

What stood out in Ghati is how naturally the film used real landscapes. The Duduma Reservoir and Duduma Falls looked stunning on screen, while the Machkhand Hydropower Station and its winch house became unlikely stars. Balada Caves and hillside viewpoints, captured with raw detail, have now found themselves on the travel list of curious audiences. Instead of sets and artificial backdrops, the film gave the audience a closer look at unexplored terrains that feel both cinematic and real.

Drone visuals added another layer of magic. Jagapathi Babu and John Vijay, playing police officers, were seen inspecting vehicles on the Duduma reservoir dam and catching liquid ganja. The wide shots of the Duduma waterfall and the Machkhand Hydropower Station, filmed using drones, became some of the film’s standout moments. Cinematographer Manoj deserves credit for capturing the raw beauty of the Andhra–Odisha border and presenting it like a natural wonder on the silver screen.

A ten-minute fight scene featuring Anushka Shetty at the winch house has become the film’s most talked-about moment. What was once just a routine workplace structure for hydropower employees now carries a new identity. Viewers clapped inside theaters, and many later traveled to the same spot, eager to stand where the scene was shot. Social media is filled with pictures and stories from these visitors, turning reel magic into real journeys.

This sudden rush of tourists has already begun benefiting local businesses around the border. Tea stalls, guides, and small shops are seeing fresh energy thanks to the film’s popularity. A playful question is now doing the rounds, if Switzerland could have a Yash Chopra statue, will these places someday raise one for Anushka Shetty? Whether that happens or not, Ghati has already achieved something rare. It has given new recognition to forgotten corners of the map, proving that cinema doesn’t just tell stories, it can also redraw them into reality.