They Call Him OG Movie Review (2025): Pawan Kalyan delivers a mass-action thriller with Emraan Hashmi as a powerful villain. Read full story, cast, highlights, strengths, weaknesses & box office updates.
They Call Him OG — Review
Film: They Call Him OG (Telugu: OG)
Director: Sujeeth
Lead Cast: Pawan Kalyan (Ojas Gambheera aka OG), Emraan Hashmi (Omi Bhav), Priyanka Mohan, Prakash Raj, Arjun Das, etc.
Music: Thaman S
Cinematography, Production, etc.: High-budget, marketed as a mass gangster-action thriller aiming to deliver for fans of Pawan Kalyan.
Introduction & Expectations
Before OG’s release, the hype around the film was massive—fan following, advance bookings, premiers. It was billed as a major return for Pawan Kalyan in the gangster genre. Big budget, big star, big expectations.
When a film is this much anticipated, it faces a double-edged sword: on one hand, it can capitalize on fan energy; on the other, the margin for disappointment widens. OG tries hard to ride the wave of expectations, and in many respects, succeeds—but not without flaws.
Plot Overview (Without Spoilers)
They Call Him OG follows Ojas Gambheera, nicknamed OG (played by Pawan Kalyan), a former gangster who returns to Mumbai after being absent for about ten years. His goal: to confront his rival Omi Bhav (portrayed by Emraan Hashmi), another powerful crime lord. Along the way, there are betrayals, power struggles, action set pieces, flashbacks, emotional beats, delineations of loyalty, and conflicts in both the underworld and OG’s personal life.
The narrative mostly builds up to a series of confrontations—physical fights, showdowns, moral crossovers—interspersed with character moments and family/home drama. There is also the typical gangster film trappings: rise-and-fall arcs, codes of honor, violence, spectacle.
What Works Well
- Pawan Kalyan’s Screen Presence
One of the strongest points of OG is Pawan Kalyan himself. His charisma, swagger, and aura are front-and-center. Several reviews and public reactions note that the first half, especially the intro and interval portions, benefit greatly from his presence. Fans feel this is a film that reminds them why they follow him. - Emraan Hashmi as Antagonist
Emraan Hashmi, in his Telugu debut, gets praise for being a menacing, compelling villain. Some reviews even call him the “show-stopper.” The contrast between OG (hero) and Omi Bhav (villain) helps, especially in scenes that allow Hashmi to stretch his character beyond just being a foil. - Music & Background Score (Thaman S)
The soundtrack and especially the background score (BGM) are widely appreciated. Action scenes, elevated moments (intros, interval blocks, etc.), and high-energy sequences are considerably lifted by Thaman’s compositions. Many reviews mention that when the film works, a lot of it is because of how the music builds up the atmosphere. - Visual Style, Action Choreography & Set Pieces
The film is polished in terms of production values. Cinematography, set designing (especially of gangster dens, city backdrops, etc.), action sequences, and key fight blocks (like in the police station, or big confrontation parts) are designed to be grand and intense. For fans of mass action-thrillers, there is enough spectacle. - Mass Appeal, Fan Service, & Hype Moments
The film doesn’t try to hide that it’s made for fans. Many of the elevation moments (hero entrances, dialogues, stylized fights) are built to evoke cheers. The interval block is widely regarded as one of the best parts. The hype, the fan energy, the visuals, the grand setups — these succeed, especially among Pawan Kalyan’s admirers.
What Falls Short / Weaknesses
- Weakness in the Second Half & Pacing Issues
A common criticism is that while the first half builds up well, with interesting set-ups and tension, the second half fails to sustain momentum. There are lulls, predictable moments, and long stretches where emotional connection drops. The pacing becomes uneven. - Story / Writing Predictability
For many viewers, OG delivers many tropes that are familiar: gangster rivalries, betrayal, rise and return after disappearance, emotional beats tied to family, etc. The film’s plot, while solid, rarely surprises. Some elevation moments seem unearned because the setup for them is thin. For non-fans or people less invested in big-hero templates, those parts may feel formulaic. - Lack of Emotional Depth
The emotional arcs (besides the action) do not always land. Some characters are underwritten, especially outside the hero and villain. The film dips into moments where it tries to evoke sympathy or tension, but because setup is not always strong, the payoff is less satisfying. Some reviews mention that “elevations without emotions” are a problem. - Consistency in Tone / Engagement
After the interval point, while there are high moments, there are also stretches that feel like filler, or that don’t add much to the central conflict. The film sometimes drags, especially for viewers who expect tighter narrative flow. Critics point out that the second half could have been trimmed (15–20 minutes or more) to maintain momentum. - Other Elements (VFX, Supporting Characters, etc.)
Some complaints include that VFX in certain scenes is underwhelming, or that some supporting characters or subplots aren’t fully fleshed, which weakens certain sequences. Also, because much of the focus is on PK and the main antagonist, other roles (like romantic interest, family etc.) sometimes feel pedestrian.
Overall Verdict
They Call Him OG is a film that hits many of its high points—especially in the context of fan expectations and mass-entertainer genre. If you’re a fan of Pawan Kalyan, you will likely enjoy it: his presence, the style, the music, the flashy action, and the villain’s strength make it feel like a return to form in many ways.
However, for viewers seeking freshness, deep emotional stakes, narrative surprises, or highly polished storytelling throughout, OG may feel somewhat uneven. The first half builds promise; the second half sometimes fails to sustain or capitalize fully.
On a star scale (or rating), many critics and viewers seem to settle around 3 to 3.5 stars out of 5. It is, for most, a “for the fans, worth watching” film rather than a universal blockbuster in terms of story.
Key Takeaways / Strengths vs. Weaknesses
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Pawan Kalyan’s charisma and aura, especially in intro & interval blocks | Predictability in plot, especially in the second half |
| Emraan Hashmi’s performance as antagonist adds tension | Emotional moments are hit-or-miss; some lack depth |
| Action set pieces, style, music & background score very strong | Pacing issues; some scenes drag |
| Mass appeal, fan service, high production value | Supporting characters underdeveloped; VFX/spec sequences sometimes inconsistent |
- Box Office Records: The film set records with its premiere day collections (advance bookings, previews etc.). Eg: over ₹23 crore from previews alone in India.
- High Fan Expectation: Because of PK’s political career, the delay of other projects, and hype, the expectations were unusually high.
- OTT Potential: Though the theatrical release is primary, there’s interest in OTT release timelines.
- Mixed Reception: While fans seem mostly satisfied, casual viewers or critics note that the film doesn’t take huge narrative risks. This split in reception is worth noting in how films today need to balance star power, fan service, and storytelling depth.
Comparative Thoughts
Comparing OG to other recent films of Pawan Kalyan or recent Telugu gangster/thriller films:
- It does better than some recent outings in terms of energy and spectacle.
- It may not reach the narrative heights of, say, Arjun Reddy or some films which took bigger risks.
- In terms of mass-entertainer gangster dramas (for example comparisons might be KGF, Pushpa, etc.), OG leans more on star power and flair rather than thematic novelty.
Who Will Like It & Who May Be Let Down
Likely to enjoy:
- Devoted fans of Pawan Kalyan, who cherish his mass moments, signature dialogues, hero entrances, style, presence.
- Lovers of stylized action, gangster-thrillers, who come for action + music + intensity.
- Viewers who are okay forgiving some predictability for spectacle.
Possibly disappointed:
- Viewers looking for deep, original storytelling, strong character arcs beyond the hero and villain.
- Those who feel emotionally invested content should deliver more than just mass elevation scenes.
- Audiences sensitive to pacing; if one expects even flow and less filler, might find parts dragging.
Final Score / Recommendation
All in all, They Call Him OG is a solid mass entertainer. Not perfect, but for what it sets out to do — to give the fans PK at his “OG” best — it largely achieves that.
Rating Suggestion: ~ 3.5 / 5 stars
Watch or Not: If you like action-heavy, larger-than-life films with a strong hero, yes. If you’re after tightly written plots or something less predictable, you might want to go in with tempered expectations.
