After a decade-long hiatus from the underworld, the original gangster is back. Pawan Kalyan's highly anticipated action crime thriller "They Call Him OG" is set to storm theaters worldwide on September 25, 2025, marking what could be the biggest Telugu blockbuster of the year. With advance bookings already shattering records and a production budget that rivals Hollywood spectacles, this Sujeeth directorial is generating unprecedented buzz across international markets.

Movie Overview

Title: They Call Him OG (OG - Original Gangsters) Genre: Action Crime Thriller/Gangster Drama Language: Telugu (with dubbed versions in Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, and Hindi) Runtime: 2 hours 35 minutes Rating: Not yet rated

Star-Studded Cast and Characters

Lead Cast

• Pawan Kalyan as Ojas Gambheera/OG - The titular role of the fearsome Mumbai underworld don

• Emraan Hashmi as Omi Bhau - The antagonist and current crime boss (Telugu debut)

• Priyanka Arul Mohan as Kanmani - The female lead and love interest

Supporting Ensemble

• Prakash Raj in a pivotal role

• Arjun Das as a key supporting character

• Sriya Reddy in an important role

• Subhalekha Sudhakar as a veteran gangster

• Rao Ramesh in a supporting role

• Harish Uthaman as a crime syndicate member

• Shaan Kakkar as a gangster

• Shatrughan Kumar as Tamil Killer

• Abhimanyu Singh in a crucial role

• Ajay Ghosh as a crime family member

• Shaam in a supporting role

• Neha Shetty in a cameo appearance

Production Details

Budget and Business

The project was funded by D. V. V. Danayya's DVV Entertainment with a reported production budget of ₹250 crore. Kalyan was reported to receive ₹100 crore for remuneration. This massive investment makes OG one of the most expensive Telugu films ever produced.

Director and Crew

• Director: Sujeeth (known for Saaho)

• Producer: D. V. V. Danayya under DVV Entertainment banner

• Music Director: Thaman S (fourth collaboration with Pawan Kalyan)

• Cinematography: Ravi K. Chandran and Manoj Paramahamsa

• Editor: Naveen Nooli

• Production Designer: A. S. Prakash

Digital Rights

The post-theatrical digital rights for Pawan Kalyan's "They Call Him OG" have been acquired by Netflix India for a whopping 92 crores.

Release Information

Theatrical Release

• Worldwide Release Date: September 25, 2025

• Languages: Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, and Hindi

• Distribution: Global theatrical release across major cinema chains

Premiere Details

Premiere pre-sales for OG began on August 27, 2025, in the US. In less than 24 hours, Sujeeth's directorial has garnered a gross of $82K. The film is already trending ahead of major Tollywood releases.

Original Release Plans

The film was originally scheduled to release on 27 September 2024 but was postponed indefinitely due to production delays and Kalyan's political campaign before finalizing the current date.

Trailer and Promotional Timeline

Teaser Release

The film teaser trailer titled "Hungry Cheetah", was released on 2 September 2023, coinciding with Pawan Kalyan's 52nd birthday.

Music Releases

The first single, titled "Firestorm" was released on 2 August 2025. The second single, titled "Suvvi Suvvi" was released on 27 August 2025. The third single titled "Trance Of Omi" was released on 11 September 2025. The fourth single titled "Guns N' Roses" was released on 15 September 2025.

Plot Synopsis

After vanishing from Mumbai's underworld for a decade, mob boss Ojas Gambheera resurfaces—feared, unstoppable, and with a single goal: to reclaim his empire and exact vengeance on the current tyrant, Omi Bhau. As loyalties fracture and alliances shift, OG reignites a brutal criminal war, confronting both external threats and haunting buried betrayals.

The character's name has deeper significance: Ojas, meaning a master or fight master, and Gambheera, another significant name for the character, combine to form 'Ojas Gambheera.' Additionally, 'OG' also stands for 'Original Gangster.'

Production Journey

Filming Timeline

A muhuratam puja ceremony was held on 30 January 2023 at a studio in Hyderabad with the presence of the film's cast and crew. Principal photography commenced in April 2023 in Mumbai.

Production Challenges

The film's shoot was halted for several months due to Kalyan's political campaign in 2024 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election. Following his election as Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, the film resumed its shoot in October 2024 in Hyderabad. However, shooting came to a halt again owing to the political responsibilities of Kalyan. After months of instability, production resumed on 14 May 2025 with Kalyan. The portions of Kalyan's role were wrapped up on 7 June 2025.

Location Shooting

Later, Sujeeth began location scouting for the film with cinematographer Ravi K. Chandran and production designer A. S. Prakash at Flora Fountain in Mumbai.

Box Office Expectations and Pre-Release Buzz

US Market Performance

OG has sold 22,878 tickets (as of 7:52 am IST) for premieres that are scheduled on September 24. With such a response, OG is trending much better than all other Tollywood biggies.

In the first four days of pre-sales, Kalki 2898 AD sold tickets worth $435,338. If a comparison is made, Pawan's next is leading by 55.4% higher ticket sales than Prabhas' biggie.

Recent Pre-Sales Milestones

Pre-sale tickets for the US premiere are selling fast, and They Call Him OG has become the fastest film to cross $750K at the US box office, with over 25,000 tickets already sold.

Technical Aspects

Music and Background Score

The film's soundtrack is composed by Thaman S, marking his fourth collaboration with Pawan Kalyan after successful ventures like Vakeel Saab, Bheemla Nayak, and Bro. The music promises to blend intense action sequences with emotional depth.

Cinematography

With cinematographers Ravi K. Chandran and Manoj Paramahamsa at the helm, the film promises stunning visual storytelling that captures both the gritty underworld atmosphere and high-octane action sequences.

Industry Impact and Significance

"They Call Him OG" represents a significant milestone in Telugu cinema, combining massive production values with star power. The film's pan-Indian release strategy and record-breaking advance bookings indicate its potential to redefine box office standards for regional cinema.

With Pawan Kalyan's return to full-fledged commercial cinema after his political commitments, the film carries immense expectations from fans and industry alike. The collaboration between the Power Star and director Sujeeth, known for his ambitious filmmaking style, promises a cinematic experience that could set new benchmarks for action thrillers in Indian cinema.

As September 25 approaches, "They Call Him OG" stands poised to dominate not just the Telugu film industry but establish itself as a major force in pan-Indian entertainment, potentially joining the ranks of the biggest blockbusters in recent memory.