Basic Info
- Title: They Call Him OG (also referred to as OG) Wikipedia+2OTTPlay+2
- Language: Telugu (with dubbed versions in Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam and Kannada) businesstimenow.com+1
- Director/Writer: Sujeeth Wikipedia+1
- Producers: DVV Entertainment (D. V. V. Danayya) and Kalyan Dasari Wikipedia+1
- Cinematography: Ravi K. Chandran & Manoj Paramahamsa Wikipedia+1
- Music: Thaman S Wikipedia+1
- Runtime: Approx. 154 minutes Wikipedia+1
- Certificate: “A” (adults only) rating by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) due to strong violence. Hindustan Times+1
Plot Overview
Here’s a more complete outline of the story:
- Themes: revenge, loyalty, power shifts in the underworld, identity, betrayal. The mix of gangster drama + samurai aesthetics (sword fights, katana) gives the film a stylised flavour. FilmiBeat+1
- The film begins in the 1970s: The protagonist, Pawan Kalyan’s character Ojas Gambheera (nicknamed “OG”), is a survivor of a massacre in Japan (a samurai-dojo attack). He escapes to Bombay (Mumbai) on a ship. There, two businessmen (Satya Dada and Vardhaman Mirajkar) are transporting gold bars to build a private port in Colaba. OG intervenes when thieves attack them and pledges loyalty to Satya Dada. Wikipedia+2businesstimenow.com+2
- Fast-forward to 1993: OG’s old boss Satya Dada’s port is thriving under his protection. Meanwhile Mirajkar, now politically powerful, wants to take over the port. The conflict escalates after a major incident where Satya’s younger son is killed in a shoot-out instigated by Mirajkar’s side. OG returns into action. Wikipedia+1
Cast & Key Characters
- Pawan Kalyan as Ojas Gambheera (“OG”) – the central figure. Wikipedia+1
- Emraan Hashmi (in his Telugu debut) as Omi Bhau – the antagonist/menacing gang lord. Wikipedia+1
- Priyanka Arul Mohan as Kanmani – OG’s wife. businesstimenow.com
- Supporting cast: Prakash Raj, Arjun Das, Sriya Reddy, Harish Uthaman, Abhimanyu Singh, among others. Wikipedia+1
Production & Development
- The story was conceived by Sujeeth with Sainadh Alla credited as co-writer. Movie Complex+1
- Announcement & start: The film was announced in December 2022. Principal photography began April 2023 in Mumbai. Wikipedia+1
- The production faced delays (notably because Pawan Kalyan’s political commitments), causing reshoots and pauses. Filming wrapped by July 2025. Wikipedia
- Reported big budget: It was claimed as one of the highest budgets of his career (₹250 crore reported) and his remuneration high. Wikipedia
Music & Technical Highlights
- Music by Thaman S: The soundtrack album was released 21 September 2025 on the Sony Music India label. Wikipedia+1
- Several singles preceded the full album (e.g., “Firestorm”, “Suvvi Suvvi”, “Trance of Omi”, “Guns N’ Roses”, “Washi Yo Washi”). Wikipedia
- The score mixes samurai/katana themes, rock elements, and Japanese music influences to match the visual tone. Wikipedia
- Cinematography & production design: The film leans heavily on style — rich visuals, colour palette, stylised action blocks. Reviews point this out. Hindustan Times+1
Release & Box Office
- Theatrical Release: 25 September 2025 (with some paid premieres 24 September) in multiple languages. Hindustan Times+1
- OTT/Digital Rights: Streaming on Netflix from 23 October 2025 in multiple dubbed versions. FilmiBeat
- Box Office: Reported worldwide grosses vary around ₹294-300 crore. Wikipedia+1
- Note: Despite the big numbers, some reports suggest that in its core Telugu market (Andhra Pradesh & Telangana) the film under-performed relative to expectations. The Week
What Works & Areas of Concern
What works:
- Pawan Kalyan’s charismatic presence/hero aura remains a big draw. Hindustan Times+1
- Action and style: The samurai-gangster hybrid gives a fresh visual flavour. The music/score gets praise for elevating scenes. Wikipedia
- Technical values (cinematography, art-direction) are strong.
What doesn’t work as well:
- Story/narrative: Multiple reviewers felt the plot was familiar, some subplots under-developed, character arcs thin. Wikipedia+1
- For non-fans of Pawan Kalyan or mainstream mass cinema, certain elements may feel repetitive.
- Market expectations: Given the budget and hype, the performance in the home market caused scrutiny.
Why It Matters
- It marks a departure (in terms of tone) for Pawan Kalyan into a more violent, stylised gangster mode, rather than his usual mass-hero roles.
- The film is an example of pan-Indian ambition: multi-language release, large scale.
- For fans, it gives a “mass entertainer” with high technical polish and big-screen spectacle.
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