‘They Call Him OG’: Overseas Hit, Domestic Miss for Pawan Kalyan
Pawan Kalyan’s They Call Him OG arrived with sky-high expectations and record-breaking hype, positioning itself as one of the biggest Telugu releases of the year. While the film shattered records overseas, its domestic story is more complicated — marked by inflated prices, uneven profits, and tough competition.
In the overseas market, OG turned out to be a jackpot. Early investors saw massive returns, with the U.S., UAE, and Australia markets performing beyond all predictions. “Those who picked up overseas rights before the hype are the real winners,” says trade analyst Ramesh Bala. “OG proved how strong Telugu cinema’s global following has become.”
Back home, things weren’t as smooth. The Nizam rights were sold at record-breaking rates — nearly double Pawan Kalyan’s usual market range. “It was an ambitious bet,” says Hyderabad-based box office tracker Venkat Aravind. “Only because of high ticket prices and early fan rush did it manage to break even.”
In the Andhra and Ceded regions, distributors faced heavy losses. Despite strong openings and solid occupancy, many are staring at 20–30% deficits. “Overvaluation hurt the film’s economics,” explains trade expert Harish Kumar. “Even a hit can’t recover costs when the buying price is unrealistic.”
Adding to the challenge, the release of Kantara Chapter 1 cut short OG’s box office run. With four new Diwali releases on the horizon, recovery looks doubtful. “The film lost momentum faster than expected,” notes critic Sushma Reddy. “The buzz didn’t translate into long-term collections.”
Still, They Call Him OG stands as a major brand win for Pawan Kalyan and a reminder of his strong overseas appeal. But trade analysts agree it also exposes a growing imbalance in Telugu cinema — where pre-release hype and inflated deals can turn even a hit into a financial setback.
As Reddy sums it up, “OG is a blockbuster in buzz and global numbers, but a reality check at the domestic box office.”