Thrilling OG movie review Pawan Kalyan 2025 As the release of They Call Him OG draws near, expectations are already sky-high. Directed and written by Sujeeth and starring the ever-charismatic Pawan Kalyan, the film promises to be a grand gangster saga of the kind Telugu cinema hasn’t seen for some time. On the eve of its release, here’s a look at what’s working, what’s worrying, and whether OG might live up to the hype.
Premise & Setup
Thrilling OG movie review Pawan Kalyan 2025
From the available promos, trailers, and press notes, the core set-up is clear: Pawan Kalyan plays Ojas Gambheera (aka OG), a retired gangster who resurfaces in Bombay in 1993 after ten years of disappearance, to take on his arch-rival Omi Bhau, played by Emraan Hashmi. The supporting ensemble includes Priyanka Mohan, Arjun Das, Shriya Reddy, and Prakash Raj.
Thrilling OG movie review Pawan Kalyan 2025 The narrative appears ambitious: it seeks not only to deliver pulsating action, but also to explore themes of legacy, sacrifice, vengeance, and the cost of power. Whether it balances spectacle with substance is the key question.
Technical Strengths & Style
Thrilling OG movie review Pawan Kalyan 2025
From what can be gauged so far, OG has already shown promise on the technical front.
- Cinematography & Visuals
With Ravi K. Chandran and Manoj Paramahamsa on board, the film’s visuals are expected to be lush and evocative. Early visuals suggest moody frames, strong use of contrast, and well-executed action set-pieces that lean into style. - Music & Background Score
Thaman S has been reported to be in “rampage mode” many sequences in the promos lean heavily on swelling BGM to inject urgency and drama. A film of this scale depends heavily on the score to elevate moments, and OG seems equipped in that department. - Action Design & Choreography
What stands out in the preview clips is the emphasis on large, cinematic action blocks fights in alleyways, stylized confrontations, katana-wielding sequences. The title card itself has been lauded by early reviewers for its impact. These suggest high production values and careful staging.
Thrilling OG movie review Pawan Kalyan 2025 So far, OG looks primed for the “mass entertainer” lane grand in scope, heavy on visual flair, and engineered to create audience moments of roar.
What Might Hold It Back
Thrilling OG movie review Pawan Kalyan 2025
Yet, no film of this sort is without risks. Here are a few concerns that could temper the excitement:
- Overdependence on Fan Service
When a film is built around a star of Pawan Kalyan’s magnitude, there’s always the temptation to lean into spectacle and swagger at the cost of tight storytelling. Some earlier reviews already suggest that OG may tilt too heavily into adulation and style, sometimes sidelining character depth. - Underwritten Supporting Roles
The trailers and leaks hint at strong showbiz hero-villain dynamics, but less emotional complexity for secondary characters. Reports suggest that Priyanka Mohan’s character, for example, may not get ample scope beyond being a love interest. - Tonality & Pacing
With action-heavy films, balancing the frenetic set-pieces with quieter emotional beats is always delicate. The second half, especially, is where many mass entertainers stumble. Some audience feedback from early watchers (e.g. in forums / discussion threads) points to a dip in momentum or a repetition of high-style sequences. - Predictability & Familiar Tropes
Gangster-revenge dramas are well-trodden territory. The risk is that OG might follow formulaic arcs — the villain’s rise, the hero’s return, tragic sacrifice without surprising us. If emotional arcs are not well fleshed out, the spectacle may feel hollow in retrospect.
Standout Elements (What Could Elevate OG)
Thrilling OG movie review Pawan Kalyan 2025 Even with caveats, OG already displays some strong cards:
- Star Power & Aura
Pawan Kalyan remains one of Telugu cinema’s most magnetic performers. His mere presence in key moments, aided by framing, dialogue delivery, and visual build-up, is likely to command attention. Many early reviewers suggest that even when the narrative wobbles, Kalyan’s aura keeps the film afloat. - Villainous Turn by Emraan Hashmi
Emraan, playing Omi Bhau, marks a crossover into Telugu gangster cinema. Early reviews hail him as a “showstopper” villain. If the antagonistic presence is layered and memorable, it could add much-needed tension. - Set-Piece Moments & Elevation Scenes
The trailer suggests “elevation moments” high points of emotion, tension, or spectacle that are meant to be crowd-thrilling. If executed well, those could become the film’s signature beats. Reviewers already highlight the interval block fight and certain fight sequences as promising. - Production Ambition
From the grand sound design to tight editing (by Naveen Nooli) and interplay of locales, OG doesn’t appear to be a modest affair. The scale alone could make it a theatrical event worth witnessing on the big screen.
Verdict (Pre-Release Outlook)
Thrilling OG movie review Pawan Kalyan 2025 On this eve of OG’s release, my expectations hover in the “mass entertainer likely to satisfy fans, but with narrative flaws” zone.
Thrilling OG movie review Pawan Kalyan 2025 If all goes well strong editing, coherent pacing, a compelling villain, and well-distributed emotional weight OG could transcend being just a fan-service spectacle and become a talked-about action gangster film of 2025. Even if it doesn’t, for fans of Pawan Kalyan and Indian mass cinema, there’s enough promise on display to make the theatrical outing worthwhile.
Estimated Strengths:
– Electrifying visuals, high-value action, strong BGM, star moments.
Potential Weaknesses:
– Thin character arcs, overreliance on swagger over substance, possible pacing slumps.
Thrilling OG movie review Pawan Kalyan 2025 I’ll revisit this review post-release with a deeper assessment once full audience reactions, box office, and narrative verdicts come in.