OG Pawan Kalyan Review
Last night, theaters all throughout Andhra Pradesh and Telangana lighted up like Diwali on steroids for the midnight premieres of Pawan Kalyan’s new hit, They Call Him OG. The movie, which is Emraan Hashmi’s first Telugu feature, has fans whistling from the opening credits. It mixes gritty mobster drama with high-octane chases. But even with all the praises, one question stands out more than the background music: Did Prabhas really sneak in that cameo? Let’s get into the buzz because filled houses could mean a big hit at the box office.
Stars Align for Power Star’s Return: Premiere Fever
The Vimal Theatre in Hyderabad became a galaxy of stars for the premiere on September 24. Prabhas, Prashanth Neel (from Salaar), Varun Tej, and Kiran Abbavaram rolled out red carpets—or, more accurately, firecrackers—outside. Pawan Kalyan’s kids, Akira and Aadhya, got in on the fun, and Chiranjeevi tweeted his congratulations on the “grand success,” calling it a festival for fans. Ram Charan agreed with the enthusiasm, calling it a “festival for Powerstar fans.” People in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana who got up early saw the 9 PM show. They let off fireworks and sang “Jai Powerstar” when reports of sold-out midnight slots came in, even faster than the premieres of Allu Arjun’s Pushpa 2.
The Original Verdict: Mass Action Wins, but Emotions Fall Behind?
The reviews are coming in fast: The first half is interesting because Pawan plays Ojas Gambheera (OG), a Mumbai underworld figure who comes back to fight Hashmi’s Omi Bhau. Thaman’s heart-pounding BGM and Ravi K. Chandran’s graphics get a lot of praise, especially in the daring scenes where Pawan plays the “hungry cheetah.” Zoom calls it a “celebration of mass avatar,” but some X users say the second half is boring and the emotional beats don’t hit as hard as the adrenaline surge. Hashmi does a great job with the little screen time he has, but fans wanted him to be more threatening. For movie fans: For those Waaji world nods, see it in IMAX. Sujeeth’s subtle connection to his Saaho universe provides replay value without taking over the show.
Cameo Conundrum: Is Prabhas Teasing or Missing Out?
There are a lot of “spot the cameo” hunts going on online because of rumors that Prabhas will reprise his role as Saaho in a flashback that connects the mafia worlds. A younger version of Prabhas’ character shows up with Jackie Shroff, confirming the SCU (Sujeeth Cinematic Universe) connection, but there is no full cameo, which leaves some fans disappointed. Some people are sad about the “missed crossover dream,” but others are happy that Pawan is carrying the strain as a solo star. With a sequel in the works and Day 1 aiming for ₹150 crore worldwide, OG shows that one Powerstar can start a storm.
As the smoke clears from the fireworks in Bengaluru (RIP one screen to overzealous fans), OG solidifies Pawan’s pre-political bang. Normal gangster stuff? Perhaps. An event you can’t miss? Definitely. Get some popcorn; this cheetah is just getting started.