Liputan6.com, Jakarta The highly anticipated Telugu-language crime action film, "OG," or "They Call Him OG," officially hit theaters globally on September 25, 2025.
Directed by Sujeeth, the film stars superstar Pawan Kalyan as the lead, Ojas Gambheera, who returns from exile to confront crime boss Omi Bhau, played by Emraan Hashmi.
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Since its announcement, "OG" has garnered widespread attention, especially among fans of Indian cinema.
Public enthusiasm for "OG" was evident in its impressive box office performance, even before its premiere.
The film surpassed ₹100 crore in advance ticket bookings and grossed ₹14 crore net in India on its first day of release.
This achievement places "OG" as one of the biggest openings in Indian cinema history, demonstrating the powerful appeal of the action genre and the presence of Pawan Kalyan.
"OG" Production Details and Main Cast
"OG" is an ambitious project produced by D. V. V. Danayya under the banner of DVV Entertainment.
Production officially began in December 2022, with principal photography taking place in Mumbai in April 2023.
However, the filming schedule was significantly delayed for several months in 2024 due to Pawan Kalyan's involvement in political campaigns.
The film stars Pawan Kalyan as Ojas Gambheera, the gangster at the center of the story.
Emraan Hashmi makes his Telugu film debut as the main antagonist, Omi Bhau, adding to the already strong cast.
Priyanka Mohan also stars as Kanmani, Ojas's wife, completing the strong core cast.
In addition to the main stars, "OG" also boasts a seasoned supporting cast including Arjun Das, Shriya Reddy, Prakash Raj as Satya Dada, and Sudhev Nair as Jimmy.
The creative team behind the scenes is equally capable, with Thaman S. as the music composer, known for his energetic background scores, and Ravi K. Chandran and Manoj Paramahamsa responsible for the stunning visual cinematography.
Synopsis and Story Background
Set in Mumbai in the 1990s, "OG" follows the journey of Ojas Gambheera, a former gangster soldier who decides to return to the city after a decade in exile.
His return is not without reason; he must confront Omi Bhau, a crime boss who now controls Mumbai.
The central conflict in the story involves a power struggle and a mystery surrounding a port owned by Satya Dada, as well as a container containing explosives that has the potential to trigger major chaos.
The storyline of "OG" is designed as an intense crime action film, focusing on the battle between justice and evil.
The film explores themes such as loyalty, betrayal, and the consequences of a dark past.
Despite being an action film, Sujeeth attempts to infuse strong drama elements through the complex character of Ojas Gambheera, who must balance his personal life with his duties as a gangster.
Critical Reviews and Audience Response
Initial reception for "OG" has been mixed, but largely positive, from Pawan Kalyan's fanbase.
The IMDB rating site gave it a 7.2/10 while Rotten Tomatoes shows a 93% tomatometer score from audiences and has not provided a rating from critics so far.
Many OG movie reviews praised the actor's charismatic screen presence, well-crafted action sequences, and Thaman S.'s powerful background score.
Critics noted that "OG" was designed as a one-man showcase for Pawan Kalyan, with his performance capable of sparking an explosion of enthusiasm among the audience.
One review stated, "OG is designed entirely as a one-man show for #PawanKalyan.
Another review added, "OG is Sujeeth's love letter to Pawan Kalyan and a showcase of his fanaticism for the actor."
However, not all reviews were entirely positive.
Some critics highlighted the weak and predictable storyline, lack of emotional depth, and underdeveloped characters and subplots.
The second half of the film was also described as feeling slow or underwhelming, with repetitive and impactful set pieces.
"The film stumbles on its emotional depth, the relationships and connections lacking weight, leaving the narrative feeling hollow," wrote one critic.
Box Office Performance and Expectations
Before its official release, "OG" had created tremendous buzz and expectations, with many predicting it would be one of the biggest openings in Indian cinema history, perhaps even the biggest opening of 2025.
These predictions proved correct with its impressive box office haul, surpassing ₹100 crore in advance ticket bookings alone.
On its release day, the film managed to collect a net ₹14 crore in India during the day, demonstrating strong commercial appeal.
Overseas, OG movie reviews also offered a similar picture: the film's action was praised, but the pacing and predictability of the storyline were criticized.
Nonetheless, Pawan Kalyan's presence and the sheer scale of the production managed to attract a large audience.
A special screening of the film was even attended by prominent figures like Prabhas and Prasanth Neel, further adding to the prestige and attention given to "OG."