They Call Him OG is an epic crime saga and is the mash-up of the rough underbelly of Mumbai and the martial art discipline of the Japanese that has created the many-layered story of vengeance, fidelity, and redemption. The very dense timeline of the movie spanning 1970s Japan to 1990s Bombay also provides an abundant background of the characters that are connected through their life ambitions, betrayal and tragedy. At its centre is Ojas Gambheera, a violent and ruthless character whose story about a survivor of a violent dojo massacre to an urban legend and a venerable fighter is intriguing and full of emotion.
Visually, the film is a feast. It is a smooth and free flow between the neon-lit streets of Bombay and the hard and barren Japanese combat, and ends with hard-core action scenes that emphasize how Ojas has mastered the art of street-fighting and old Japanese sword. The action maintains the action pace, alternating the intricate character lines with set-pieces which blow up to a fulfilling climax. At points of tension and triumph, the score acts like a punch, the camera work describes the cultural difference and the depth of emotion in every scene and sends the audience into world that is as brutal as it is poetic at times.
The idea that the past brings to the present, that past actions, cultural backgrounds, and personal tragedy do influence the present is what echoed the most, and the film did this. The way Ojas is turned into a vengeful warrior and a secretly trained martial artist is also unforgettable and highlights the themes of determination and identity. They Call Him OG is an action action-packed adrenaline rush that exalts honor in the face of anarchy, and the audience is still left excited and meditative even after the credits are over.
