In a surprising turn of events, the title of Pawan Kalyan's action thriller, "They Call Him OG," wasn't the result of meticulous planning but rather a last-minute stroke of creative improvisation. Director Sujeeth, in a recent interview, revealed the unexpected story behind the film's title, which has now become synonymous with the movie itself.
According to Sujeeth, the title "They Call Him OG" was initially just a placeholder. He wasn't even in India when the first poster was due to be released. The director received the poster from the production team, and he was far from impressed. Feeling that the poster was of poor quality and with the release date looming, Sujeeth took it upon himself to find a solution.
Speaking to Galatta Plus, Sujeeth recounted the frantic hours before the poster's release. "One day, the producer called and said we were going to release the poster the next day. I wasn't even in India. I was like, 'Okay,' and they sent me a poster, which was very bad," he explained. With time running out, Sujeeth contacted his assistant directors back in India and urged them to create a better poster urgently.
The assistant directors responded swiftly, sending Sujeeth multiple new designs, many of which featured Pawan Kalyan with strong Japanese-inspired visuals. While the imagery was striking, Sujeeth felt that something was missing – a line that could tie it all together. That's when the phrase "They Call Him OG" came to mind. "I always had the idea of 'They Call Him OG' in my mind, so I just put it there," Sujeeth said.
The title instantly resonated with the team. It received immediate approval, and the poster was released with "They Call Him OG" emblazoned across it. To Sujeeth's surprise, the poster went viral almost immediately. The impromptu title had struck a chord with the audience, generating significant buzz and anticipation for the film.
The overwhelming response to the title led Sujeeth to embrace it fully. He later attempted to come up with alternative names, but the popularity of "They Call Him OG" was undeniable. The director then decided to adapt the character to fit the title. He crafted a backstory and personality that aligned with the "OG" moniker, which ultimately stands for 'Ojas Gambheera' and 'Original Gangster'. Ojas Gambheera reflects Pawan Kalyan's character in the movie. Ojas means a master, and Gambheera is another significant name for the character.
"They Call Him OG" was released on September 25, 2025. The film stars Pawan Kalyan as Ojas Gambheera, a former samurai-turned-gangster who returns to Mumbai to confront his rivals. The cast also includes Emraan Hashmi, Prakash Raj, Priyanka Arul Mohan, and Arjun Das.
Sujeeth's "They Call Him OG" is the second installment in the Sujeeth Cinematic Universe after Saaho (2019).
The unexpected origin of the title "They Call Him OG" serves as a reminder that sometimes the best creative decisions are born out of spontaneity and a willingness to embrace the unexpected. What began as a placeholder ultimately shaped the identity of the film, proving that a last-minute idea can sometimes have the most significant impact.
