I have often heard this line—Bollywood has Salman Khan, and Telugu cinema has Pawan Kalyan. He is not just an actor, he is a brand. His new movie They Call Him OG has been released, directed by Sujeeth. He made Saaho movie, the big Prabhas film after Baahubali. Some people didn’t understand Saaho film, some didn’t want to, but some still respect it.
Cast
- Pawan Kalyan
- Emraan Hashmi
- Priyanka Mohan
- Arjun Das
- Sriya Reddy
- Prakash Raj
- Shaan Kakkar
- Abhimanyu Singh
- Harish Uthaman
- Subhalekha Sudhakar
- Ajay Ghosh
- Shaam
- Motta Rajendran
- Jeeva (Telugu actor)
Photos
Release Date
25 September 2025
Budget
₹250 Crores
Director
Sujeeth
Genre
- Action
- Triller
- Crime
Rating
3.5 / 5
Overview
Just like Tamil cinema has LCU, the Lokesh Cinematic Universe, Telugu cinema has announced SCU, the Sujeeth Cinematic Universe, even before the release of this They Call Him OG film. The first movie was Saaho, and now comes They Call Him OG. That’s how much confidence they have in this They Call Him OG film. But is it confidence or overconfidence like Saaho again? Will this They Call Him OG movie be only a festival for South fans, or will Pawan Kalyan also set fire in the North? Let’s see.
The base of this They Call Him OG film is Mumbai’s underworld. Many gangster movies have been made, real cases have happened, yet Mumbai is still the same. Why? Because between the dons, criminals, mafia and the city stood one man—OG, the Original Gangster. More than his story, it is his sword’s history that is famous.
This They Call Him OG film is A-rated, and the reason is OG’s sword. Pawan Kalyan’s entry happens with that sword, in a way you will never forget. It’s not just action, it’s total bloodshed and super violence. In short, OG is the tiger of Mumbai’s jungle, hunting like no one else. But what will happen when the lion enters that jungle? Tiger versus Lion.
Then comes Omi. The name sounds small, but his chaos is massive. In the sea where OG’s fear flowed, Omi has mixed blood. His style is simple—the sword era is gone, now it’s time for guns. OG is old, Omi is new. With his entry, Mumbai shakes. But why did Omi come to India, and why Mumbai? This They Call Him OG film answers that in 2.5 hours by showing OG’s past, present, and future. There is even a strong Japan connection that takes OG beyond India.
They Call Him OG film is full of action but hides emotion behind it. Inside the mafia story is a secret family angle, a bit of politics, the dark side of the police, and even revenge. With a few twists, it also creates emotional drama. Reviews of OG will clearly be of two types. For fans, this will be one of the most emotional and best experiences of their lives. Nobody could present their star better. Sujeeth has set a new record in fan service.
Pawan Kalyan’s presence is like a firestorm, shown just before the interval. When the word “firestorm” appears on screen, you feel it. I saw the theatre turn into a stadium. The interval block is unique and explosive.
They Call Him OG film recreates old references and iconic moments that Telugu fans will love, but other audiences may not connect with. For Telugu fans, it’s unforgettable. But after the interval, the same problem that sank Saaho appears again. Fans will still enjoy, but neutral viewers may get confused. The story is not as strong as the presentation.
Many characters appear, and the casting is good, but almost all the focus is on Pawan Kalyan, so others get sidelined. This weakens the story. There isn’t a single scene that makes you fear for the hero. A great film always needs a villain equal to the hero, and here it isn’t.
Emraan Hashmi’s look was deadly, and his intro teaser made me think Telugu cinema would finally give him the respect Bollywood never did. But in Pawan Kalyan’s fan service, he gets lost. His entry is powerful, filled with blood, but then his character disappears.
The OG vs Omi face-off goes to waste, and the climax feels weaker compared to the interval. Still, thanks to the Japan connection, its stylish scenes and OG’s backstory keep the film exciting till the end. Then comes the moment Prabhas fans waited for—the direct connection between They Call Him OG and Saaho. It’s 100% confirmed. But did Prabhas appear in a cameo? The answer is yes and no. The story is connected, but the cameo isn’t clear.
Two things I liked the most were the way Mumbai was shown—raw, bold, and bloody, unlike anything before—and the background music. Thaman’s score turned ordinary scenes into extraordinary ones. OG’s visuals and music give an international vibe.
The interval block, the Japan connection, and the sword give Pawan Kalyan his best presentation. The negatives are weak use of villains and supporting characters, a thin story, and dubbing problems where dialogues didn’t match the actors’ voices. In the Telugu belt, OG will break records and remind everyone who the Original Gangster is.
It is a one-man show by Pawan Kalyan, sharp and powerful. But for pan-India, except for hardcore mass cinema fans, the film may feel long, repetitive, and boring. You have to decide for yourself which side you are on.