They Call Him OG Movie Review: Pawan Kalyan Stars In A Bloody Actioner That Chooses Chaos Over Content!
Director: Sujeeth
Language: Telugu (Dubbed in Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada)
Runtime: 154 Minutes
Cast: Pawan Kalyan, Emraan Hashmi, Priyanka Mohan, Arjun Das, Prakash Raj, Sriya Reddy
Introduction
Finally, after months of massive hype, They Call Him OG has hit the theatres, and fans are celebrating it like a festival! Starring Power Star Pawan Kalyan in full-on action mode, this film is directed by Sujeeth, who earlier gave us Saaho. With Emraan Hashmi marking his South debut and Thaman S delivering the BGM, expectations were sky-high.
So, does They Call Him OG live up to its “mass gangster saga” hype? Or does it drown in its own chaos of style-over-substance storytelling? Let’s dive into this detailed review to find out.
Story Overview (Without Spoilers)
The movie begins in Japan, where the mysterious OG (Pawan Kalyan) has been living in exile for years. Once a feared gangster, his name was enough to shake the underworld. But as fate would have it, he’s forced to return to India when his old world calls him back.
Here enters Emraan Hashmi as Omi Bhai, a deadly don with international connections. Between these two powerful forces begins a bloody war filled with betrayal, revenge, and countless sword fights.
But don’t expect a straightforward story — Sujeeth’s screenplay jumps timelines, mixing past and present events in a non-linear format. At times, it feels like there are “stories within stories” (and sometimes even within those stories). You’ll need full focus to keep track!
The Action and Direction
Sujeeth clearly had one goal — make They Call Him OG a visual treat for action lovers. From the very first frame, the film screams “mass appeal”. Stylized camera movements, slow-motion walks, flying blood drops — every scene looks larger-than-life.
However, the problem is that after a point, style overpowers substance. The movie feels like a mix of KGF, Pushpa, and Salaar, with a touch of Deadpool’s katana-style fights.
Pawan Kalyan’s entry scene itself sets the tone — it’s fiery, loud, and full of swag. The katana action scenes are choreographed beautifully, but they often feel repetitive. Sujeeth tries to make every fight “epic,” but not every sequence lands with the same impact.
That said, the interval block and the police station scene post-interval are pure cinematic high points. The background score by Thaman elevates those moments to another level.
Performances
Pawan Kalyan as OG
Pawan Kalyan is undoubtedly the heart of the film. His aura, screen presence, and effortless dialogue delivery make OG a powerful character. Even without flexing muscles or showing abs, his charisma alone carries half the film. He walks into a room, and the screen lights up — that’s the Power Star effect!
However, when it comes to emotional depth or character development, there’s very little offered. OG’s past and motivations are touched upon, but not explored fully, leaving the audience wanting more.
Emraan Hashmi as Omi Bhai
Bollywood’s “Serial Kisser” has turned into a serious villain here — and he nails it! His entry scene gives off pure menace, and his dialogue delivery in Telugu (and dubbed Hindi version) fits surprisingly well. Unfortunately, the script doesn’t give him enough room to shine. Most of the time, he’s just there to get beaten up by Pawan Kalyan.
Priyanka Mohan
Priyanka Mohan looks stunning on-screen and adds emotional balance to the otherwise testosterone-filled narrative. Though her role is limited, she does justice to every frame she’s in.
Arjun Das, Prakash Raj, Sriya Reddy
All three supporting actors bring intensity to their respective roles. Prakash Raj, as always, brings gravitas and authority to every dialogue. Sriya Reddy’s performance as a fierce enforcer is impressive, while Arjun Das once again proves his versatility.
Music & Background Score
When it comes to BGM, They Call Him OG truly stands tall. S Thaman has delivered one of his best works yet. Each background track matches the mood — from haunting to heroic, from calm to chaotic.
Particularly, the interval scene music and the climactic battle theme are pure goosebumps material. The BGM gives OG that much-needed “mass elevation,” compensating for some of the screenplay weaknesses.
The songs, however, are forgettable. They act more as speed breakers than story enhancers. Sujeeth could have easily trimmed 10-15 minutes by removing unnecessary tracks.
Cinematography & Technical Brilliance
Visually, They Call Him OG is stunning. The cinematography by Ravi K Chandran is top-notch, capturing the raw, gritty tone of the gangster world. The Japan sequences, the rain-soaked streets, and the dimly lit fight scenes — everything looks cinematic and grand.
The VFX and production design deserve special mention. The blending of practical sets with CGI gives the film a Hollywood-like feel in certain moments. However, some fight sequences look too “over-stylized,” losing the sense of realism.
The editing by Sreekar Prasad could’ve been tighter. The movie’s 154-minute runtime feels stretched in the second half. A crisper narrative would’ve kept the engagement high.
Screenplay & Writing
Here lies the film’s biggest weakness. They Call Him OG tries to be too many things at once — a revenge drama, a gangster epic, a father-son emotional tale, and a philosophical action film.
But in trying to balance everything, it ends up losing narrative clarity. The first half builds tension and excitement, but the second half gets tangled in subplots. The flashbacks don’t always add depth; instead, they sometimes confuse the audience.
The dialogues, though, are powerful. Lines like “A bullet doesn’t need direction when the heart knows where to aim” and “A gangster is born when peace dies” hit hard and elevate the mood.
The Negatives
- The storyline is too predictable. You can see most twists coming from miles away.
- The screenplay pacing drops drastically in the second half.
- Too many flashbacks and nonlinear jumps make the plot unnecessarily complicated.
- Some action scenes feel repetitive, especially the katana fights.
- Emraan Hashmi’s character arc deserved more attention — his potential was wasted.
The Positives
- Pawan Kalyan’s aura is unmatchable. His screen presence alone makes the movie watchable.
- Thaman’s background score gives mass elevation to every major scene.
- Stylish cinematography and grand visuals make it a theater-worthy experience.
- Interval & police station fight scenes are total crowd-pleasers.
- No adult content or abusive language, making it family-friendly despite being a gangster drama.
Final Thoughts – Chaos Over Content!
They Call Him OG is a stylishly mounted mass actioner that promises thrill, blood, and chaos — and delivers all of that. But when it comes to storytelling depth and emotional connect, it misses the mark.
Pawan Kalyan fans will absolutely love it, because it’s designed as a fan service film. Every entry, every punch, every dialogue — it’s crafted to celebrate the Power Star’s legacy.
However, for regular moviegoers who’ve seen KGF, Salaar, or Pushpa, this movie might feel like “been there, seen that.”
Still, if you’re a fan of mass masala cinema, loud BGM, heroic dialogues, and over-the-top action, They Call Him OG is your weekend ticket to cinematic chaos!
Verdict
Performances: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
Direction: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
Cinematography: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
Music/BGM: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
Story & Screenplay: ⭐⭐☆☆☆
Overall Rating: ⭐⭐½ (2.5/5)
They Call Him OG may not be a content-rich film, but it’s definitely a visual and auditory treat for fans of Pawan Kalyan and South Indian mass cinema. Watch it for the sheer swagger and screen presence of Power Star!
