Pawan Kalyan Sets OG Pre-Release Event Ablaze with Katana and Nostalgic Energy

For over two decades, fans have longed to see Pawan Kalyan channel the raw charisma of his Kushi days. On Saturday evening, at the pre-release event of They Call Him OG, that long wait paid off. The Powerstar walked on stage wielding a katana, sparking thunderous cheers from thousands who witnessed a rare blend of nostalgia and present-day energy.

“In my life, I never came like this to an audio function,” Pawan declared, brandishing the blade. “It’s done by Sujeeth but done for you.”

The highlight of the evening came when Pawan recited Washi Yo Washi, a dialogue-musical penned by director Sujeeth. “This haiku comes at the right time in the film. Listen to it,” he said before delivering a fiery live recital that sent the crowd into a frenzy. Fans erupted in chants, waving banners, many visibly emotional to see their idol embrace such unbridled spirit.

Pawan reserved special praise for his director. “Sujeeth is not an ordinary fan,” he recalled, narrating how the filmmaker once wore a Johnny headband for a month despite scoldings from his mother. “Trivikram gaaru brought me Sujeeth. He doesn’t explain much but does a lot. When he shot the film, I understood his vision.”

Calling Sujeeth and composer Thaman the “two stars of this film,” Pawan added, “They pulled me into their creative trip. I forgot I am the Deputy CM. Imagine, a Deputy CM coming with a katana like this—it all works in the film.”

The actor also applauded the technical team, singling out cinematographers DOP Ravichandran, Manoj Paramahamsa, and Ravi K Chandran, whom he described as “a poet in celluloid.” He further praised Priyanka Arul Mohan’s performance as an 80s-style heroine, noting, “Though the romance is limited, the way it is shot feels heartfelt and aspirational.”

The pre-release event firmly set the tone for They Call Him OG, blending cinematic spectacle with the raw magnetism that made Pawan Kalyan a generational star.