They Call Him OG (2025) [Movie Review]: Pawan Kalyan vs Emraan Hashmi’s High-Octane Showdown

Movie Name: They Call Him OG

Release Date: Sep 25, 2025

Starring: Pawan Kalyan, Emraan Hashmi, Priyanka Arulmohan, Arjun Das, Sriya Reddy, Prakash Raj, and Others

Director: Sujeeth

Music Director: Thaman S

Cinematographer: Ravi K. Chandran, Manoj Paramahamsa

Editor: Naveen Nooli

Rating: 3.5 / 5

Synopsis — Big-Screen Showdown

Set in 1990s Mumbai, OG (Ojas Gambheera) returns from exile as port-owner Satya Dada’s world tilts into violence when a container of explosives sparks a ruthless power play led by Omi Bhau (Emraan Hashmi). Sujeeth stages the classic cat-and-mouse gangster template around a simmering revenge plot, building toward the long-teased clash between Pawan Kalyan’s titular anti-hero and Emraan’s suave menace.

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What Works — Star Power & Spectacle

Sujeeth’s film wins when it leans into bravura filmmaking. Pawan Kalyan is magnetic — his vintage look, swagger, and hand-to-hand moments give the film its pulse. Action sequences (notably the introduction fight, the interval block, and the climax) are choreographed to satisfy fans and deliver genuine moments of cinema bravado. Emraan Hashmi makes an effective Telugu debut, bringing style and menace even if his character’s scope is somewhat narrow. Thaman’s score is relentless in the best way, amplifying scenes and giving several sequences a larger-than-life energy. Cinematography by Ravi K. Chandran and Manoj Paramahamsa bathes the film in vivid, period texture — every frame looks intentional.

What Falters — Story & Character Depth

OG’s main shortcoming is its story; style frequently outshines substance. The plot follows familiar beats and often telegraphs outcomes, which blunts suspense. Many supporting players (Prakash Raj, Sriya Reddy, Arjun Das, Priyanka Arulmohan) are underused and lack fully formed arcs, so emotional payoffs feel sporadic. The second half slows at times and could have benefited from tighter editing and deeper stakes in the central rivalry. The big confrontation works but doesn’t quite live up to the enormous build-up.

Technical Highlights

Technical craftspeople elevate the experience: production design convincingly recreates Bombay’s underbelly, Ravi and Manoj’s lensing is luxurious, and Naveen Nooli’s editing is sharp in action beats (though pacing drags mid-second half). Dialogues and the director’s fan-centric flourishes keep the energy buoyant.

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Verdict — A Feast for Fans, Flawed for Story-Seekers

They Call Him OG is Sujeeth’s unabashed tribute to Pawan Kalyan — a film built for the crowd, heavy on style, spectacle, and star moments. If you come for electrifying action, larger-than-life presence, and a pounding background score, OG delivers. If you expect a taut, character-driven crime drama, the predictable plot and underwritten supporting roles will disappoint. In short: an entertaining, fan-first actioner that doesn’t quite transcend its narrative limits — worth watching for the performance and the set-piece highs.