‘They Call Him OG’ X review: Strong start for Pawan Kalyan’s OG, but second half disappoints

They Call Him OG, the much-awaited Telugu action drama starring Pawan Kalyan and directed by Sujeeth, hit theatres today amidst massive fanfare. While the film has been praised for its slick visuals and Pawan’s undeniable screen presence, early reactions on social media – particularly on platform X – suggest a mixed to below-average response, with the second half drawing major criticism.

What’s working, according to social media:

Users appreciated the film’s technical polish and style factor. The introduction and first half seem to have made a strong impression, especially the way Pawan Kalyan was presented.

One user wrote, “The Film Starts Off well BEST EVER Title Card for PK Good 1st Half Followed by Lackluster Second Half Too much elevations without emotions. PK delivers a Commanding Screen Presence, #EmranHashmi adds more style.”

Another user praised the film’s aesthetics, “Positives – Interesting Start, Stylish presentation, DOP & BGM”

And what’s not working:

Despite the hype, many felt the film lost steam after the interval. The most common sentiment? The second half pulls the film down.

“Negatives – Sluggish narration, #PawanKalyan and #PriyankaArulMohan Track, Zero emotions, Less screen time of #PK, Utterly predictable scenes.”

In a WhatsApp chat shared by one user, a reviewer commented, "Excellent first half, second half didnt elevate, below average. Movie as a whole below average."

Another sharp reaction came from a user who criticized the film’s authenticity, “They made the whole movie with dupes and AI.”

About the film:

They Call Him OG is a Telugu-language action crime drama directed by Sujeeth and produced by DVV Danayya under DVV Entertainment. The film stars Pawan Kalyan as Ojas Gambheera (OG), a former gangster returning to Bombay in the 1990s to settle old scores with crime boss Omi Bhau, played by Emraan Hashmi in his Telugu debut. The cast also includes Priyanka Mohan, Arjun Das, Sriya Reddy, and Prakash Raj.