October 23, 2025
Pawan Kalyan’s latest blockbuster, They Call Him OG, has been a massive box-office draw, but its journey has been anything but smooth. The film, directed by Sujeeth, has found itself embroiled in a dual controversy, facing allegations of plagiarism from a Kannada filmmaker and serious financial and distribution issues overseas.
The first major point of contention centers on accusations of lifting content.
Plagiarism Allegations: ‘OG’ vs. ‘Kabzaa’
Kannada filmmaker R Chandru, known for the film Kabzaa, recently stirred a storm by suggesting that certain visuals and sequences in the OG trailer bear a striking resemblance to his 2023 release.
In a recent interview, Chandru stated, “Watch a few moments from OG‘s trailerβyou’ll notice striking similarities to my film Kabzaa. I’m certain they’ve drawn some inspiration from it.” While he added that “inspiration is not a bad thing,” his comments quickly went viral, prompting a massive social media debate.
Netizens, however, were quick to point out the irony, as Kabzaa itself faced widespread criticism for its execution style being heavily inspired by the blockbuster KGF. Despite the online backlash against Chandru, the claim has added fuel to the fire surrounding the high-profile action flick.
The Overseas Distribution Storm
Prior to the plagiarism row, the film’s overseas release was marked by significant turbulence. Just before its global premiere, several overseas exhibitors either cancelled or delayed shows, citing two major issues:
- Delay in Content Delivery: Major European and North American distributors expressed “frustration” over the last-minute delivery of the film’s content. They argued that these delays, despite them paying hefty upfront amounts, risked the cancellation of premiere shows and led to backlash from theatre chains and fans.
- Inflated Sales Allegations: The situation escalated when a major North American exhibitor, York Cinemas, announced it was pulling out of the release. The company made serious allegations, claiming that individuals affiliated with the film’s distributor requested them to artificially inflate sales numbers. This, the exhibitor claimed, was an unethical practice intended to boost the economic value of future projects under the “OG” banner and gain control over the South Asian film market abroad.
The overseas chaos, which forced fans in some regions to personally assist in transporting hard drives to rescue screenings, underscored the complex financial and logistical hurdles that marred an otherwise highly anticipated release.
Despite the surrounding controversies, which also included reports of fan frenzy and disruptive celebrations at local screenings, They Call Him OG witnessed record-breaking pre-sales and a massive opening. The film’s overall financial success stands in stark contrast to the ethical and logistical questions raised during its release window, keeping the discussion about ‘The Original Gangster’ and his film a hot topic in the film industry.