He is adopted by Satyadev (Prakash Raj) when he relocates his entire family and business to Bombay in the 70s. Gambheera acts as a fearful warrior protector of Satyadev's family which has a big stake in Bombay via its port activities.

What happens when a container with RDX lands in Satyadev's port? Who is behind it? Why is Gambheera not with Satyadev when this happens? The answer to all these questions forms OGs overall story.

Performances

Pawan Kalyan plays the title role OG, and there is not a trace of doubt about him carrying it with authority. The good part is Sujeeth's care in styling and presentation, which worked as a breather for both neutral audiences and Pawan Kalyan's die-hard fans. Except for a couple of scenes where the costumes could have been better, the overall styling and presentation are impressive.

Performance-wise, he shows the ease of a seasoned star. His screen presence helps carry the role, and there are a few scenes where Pawan Kalyan truly shines as a performer. One clear example is the police station sequence, where he delivers an intense act that stands out.

Priyanka Arul Mohan plays the female lead, and though her role is brief she makes a neat impression with her screen presence.

Emraan Hashmi appears in the negative role, bringing a refreshing addition to the film. However, the lack of depth in the writing leaves his character shallow, which limits the impact.

Analysis

Sujeeth of Saaho fame writes and directs OG. It is an action drama with a different backdrop, but routine drama.

The film's opening is not to be missed. It needs to be emphasised as the basic foundation of the hero and the setup is established here.

The movie's core story begins immediately after the titles. The whole narrative revolves around a container that contains RDX which can blow up the entire Bombay. A gang wants it and another which involves OG doesn't want it to be out.

It's a simple conflict, but the way Sujeeth starts the whole thing in the first half makes things intriguing in the beginning. The world he creates and setup offers some freshness.

However, it doesn't take long to stagnate the proceedings as the sub plots in the movie emerge. We have the love track and Arjun Das's revenge angle. Both tracks lack the writing to hold the narrative in a gripping way.

We have sensational hero elevation blocks, and then there are drama and emotion scenes that are very lackluster. The other character's elevation for the hero lacks the punch turns repetitive very soon.

Still, when it comes to the interval the sheer high associated due to the hero and it's connection to the fans make things in the first half passable.

One expects the bang to continue in the second half. And the expectations are met, at least initially. The beginning, especially the way Gambheera's return to Bombay is shown followed by the sequence at the police station are electrifying.

Unfortunately, the electricity even with the elevation is turned off at this point. It's as if someone has switched off the power and what we get following next are utterly hollow and superficial emotional scenes involving a tragic flashback and kid. Both fail, and things drag for a long time.

And then these the two emotional tracks in the second half merge neatly into the pre climax via a decent plot twist.

Things once again stagnate as Sujeeth introduced a whole new world into the narrative at this point. The connection with Saaho, the introduction of Cobra, David and Yakuza head and so on at this point looks rushed and confusing if one doesn't follow things from the start. Even if one has, it is too packed in the proceedings very late in the day.

All things lead to a bang bang climax where the hero just breezes through the fights invincibly. He annihilates everyone and everything, including the villain. Still, some elements here might appeal to the fans which makes it decent.

OG in hindsight is all about action and the world Sujeeth has created. Here too some action bits don't work like the training fight sequence in the first half, or the overdone gun fight one in the second hour.

Also, the overall plot in general is a clear cut extension of Pawan Kalyan's previous works in similar space, Balu and Panjaa. It is clear that Sujeeth has worked on it as a fanboy and it can be felt in every scene featuring the star from his eyes as a director. The fact that there are no troll scenes for the star who has been under the scanner for the same in his last outing shows how much care he has taken in the presentation.

Overall, OG is an action drama where the action works, for the most part, and the drama fails from the start. It's the fanboy presentation of his star with a lot of care and effort that makes one give OG a pass despite all the issues. OG is a movie for the fans by a fan. Try it if you belong to the cult.

Performances by Others Actors

OG presents a lineup of talented supporting actors. Prakash Raj, however, is wasted by director Sujeeth, with very little scope given to his character. The same goes for Arjun Das, another strong performer who remains underutilized. On the positive side, Sriya Reddy lands a decent role and makes her presence felt. A few others like Subhalekha Sudhakar and the rest of the supporting cast deliver their parts well.

Music and Other Departments?

OG is technically solid with multiple departments coming together to give the film a strong backbone. Starting with the cinematography Ravi K Chandran (ISC), Manoj Paramahamsa (ISC) do a fabulous job of presenting the film with striking visuals. The movie is filled with praiseworthy camera shots and angles that highlight the effort and skill of these two, making their work a real asset to the film.

Thaman's background score is another major highlight. His music elevates the film into a slick gangster drama, with his score in several sequences leaving a powerful impact. Even as standalone tracks the songs hold up well. Overall, Thaman delivers big time and proves to be a major asset.

Editing by Naveen Nooli, however, could have been sharper. The second half, in particular, suffers from a confusing flow of scenes, which makes the film feel longer than it actually is. Though the runtime is not lengthy on paper, the narrative pacing adds to the drag.

On the other hand, the production values from DVV Productions are excellent, making the film look grand and apt for a big-screen theatrical experience.

Highlights?

Pawan Kalyan's screen presence

Thaman's BGM and songs

Action choreography

Camera work

Drawbacks?

Shallow writing

OG character lacks strong drama and relies too much on style

Poor emotional connect

Flat villain characters

Did I Enjoy It?

Partly yes, though it left me unsatisfied.

Will You Recommend It?

Yes, if you go in without expecting a lot.

OG Movie Review by M9

Live Updates

#OG Final Report:

Watchable fare! ( 2.5/5 )

OG has its moments and the effort shows, but the drama feels shallow. Sujeeth falls short in building a strong OG character. On the plus side, the film looks impressive and delivers a few solid fan-pleasing moments. Thaman's score stands out as a big asset. Watch it with the right expectations. Detailed OG review soon.

First Half Report:

OG first half offers stylish PK, striking visuals, and a strong score from Thaman. It builds intrigue, though the narrative on the flip side has not been as strong so far. Over to the second half.

'OG' U.S. Premiere begins at 12.30 PM EST ( 10 PM IST). Stay tuned.

Pawan Kalyan's OG moment has finally arrived. The film has built the perfect hype for a star vehicle, and now all it needs is content that matches the 'power' expectations. All eyes are on director Sujeeth to deliver. Stay tuned for M9 OG review and U.S. premiere report.

Cast: Pawan Kalyan, Emraan Hashmi, Priyanka Arul Mohan, Arjun Das, Sriya Reddy, Prakash Raj

Written & Directed by Sujeeth

Production: DVV Entertainment
Producer: DVV Danayya, Kalyan Dasari

Music: Thaman
Cinematographers: Ravi K Chandran (ISC), Manoj Paramahamsa (ISC)
Production Designer: AS Prakash
Editor: Navin Nooli
Costume Designers: Darshan Jalan & Neelanchal Kumar Ghosh
VFX Supervisor: Raghav Tammareddy
DI: Annapurna Studios

U.S. Distributor: Prathyangira Cinemas

OG Movie Review by M9