Celebrations for the release of Pawan Kalyan's latest film, "They Call Him OG," took an unexpected turn when a massive garland adorning a cutout of the actor caught fire outside a theater in Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh, on September 24, 2025.
Videos circulating on social media captured the incident, showing the garland ablaze on the Pawan Kalyan cutout erected outside Venkateswara Theatre. Fans had decorated theaters with cutouts of the lead actor and were bursting crackers to celebrate the release of Sujeeth's "They Call Him OG". According to one fan's Instagram post, the fire may have been caused accidentally by firecrackers. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
The incident in Chittoor wasn't the only instance of "They Call Him OG" release celebrations making headlines. In Bengaluru, police halted an unauthorized event organized by Pawan Kalyan fans ahead of the film's release. The Bangalore PK Fans Association had erected a stage and DJ setup outside Sandhya Theatre in Madiwala without police permission, leading to intervention by authorities. Some moviegoers were seen carrying plastic swords, which police seized.
Adding to the film's eventful release, a cinema in Canada reported an arson attempt linked to screenings of "They Call Him OG". Film.Ca Cinemas in Oakville released surveillance footage of the incident, stating that such attacks are not new when they screen an Indian movie, and that they would not stop any shows of "They Call Him OG". York Cinemas, another major exhibitor in Canada and the US, decided to pull "They Call Him OG" entirely, citing unethical practices by the film's distributor, including alleged requests to inflate ticket sales. The cinema also raised concerns about potential risks to public safety.
Meanwhile, the Telangana High Court issued an interim suspension of the state government's memo permitting a special premiere show and a hike in ticket prices for "They Call Him OG".
Despite the controversies and unexpected incidents, "They Call Him OG" has been breaking box office records. Pawan Kalyan, who also serves as Andhra Pradesh's Deputy Chief Minister, has been battling viral fever since attending the pre-release event. His political party, Janasena Party, reported that he was still recovering and undergoing tests.
