Dhanush has a clear message about his upcoming film OM: Chapter 1 – Udhiram: The Blood Wood. The actor does not see it as a multi-starrer. He calls it a “multi-hero” film instead. Dhanush shared this thought at the film’s audio launch in Chennai on November 6, 2026. The event brought together the film’s huge cast, including Mammootty, Sai Pallavi, Sreeleela, and music composer Sai Abhyankkar. Dhanush’s speech, Mammootty’s return to Tamil cinema, and the film’s release plan are the main talking points.
Dhanush Lists Five Heroes and Puts Himself Last
Dhanush spoke with his usual humour and honesty at the audio launch held at Sri Sairam Engineering College. He named the film’s heroes in a very specific order. Mammootty came first. Sai Pallavi, Sreeleela, and composer Sai Abhyankkar followed. Dhanush placed himself at the end of the list.
“Om has five heroes: Mammootty sir, Sai Pallavi, Sreeleela, Sai Abhyankkar and then me. It is not a multi-starrer; it is a multi-hero film,” Dhanush said.
That line captured the spirit of the evening. Dhanush was clear that every main cast member carries a strong role in the story. The film does not rely on one single star above the rest. This idea fits what director Rajkumar Periasamy has said about the film’s structure. The story links many characters together for one common cause.
Dhanush also praised Rajkumar, who directed the hit film Amaran. “Never met someone like Rajkumar. He has great confidence in himself and his script. He knows how to get work done from his people, and knows what the fans want also,” Dhanush said. He joked about the song ‘Alaakaa Loova’. Dhanush said the dance number was not necessary for a film like this, but Rajkumar wanted him to dance for his fans.
Mammootty Returns to Tamil Cinema After Seven Years
Mammootty is a Malayalam superstar with a career spanning decades. OM: Chapter 1 marks his return to Tamil cinema after seven years. His last notable Tamil film was Peranbu in 2018 . Mammootty made his Tamil debut with Mounam Sammadham. He has also appeared in films like Kandukondain Kandukondain.
At the audio launch, Mammootty kept his speech light but promised a serious film. “After 7 years, I’m doing a Tamil film. My speech will be fun, but the film will be serious. It’ll touch your skin,” he said.
Mammootty also praised his co-stars. He said Sai Pallavi has “flickering expressions.” He called Dhanush’s character “extraordinary” and predicted it would be “one of his best performances”. The veteran actor described the film as a hillside story about common people. He said it holds many connected stories, including Sai Pallavi’s story and Dhanush’s story, but he did not reveal the full plot.
Sai Pallavi Plays a CBI Officer in a Red Sandalwood Story
Sai Pallavi takes on a role very different from her recent work. She plays Nithya Reddy, a Central Bureau of Investigation officer. Nithya’s father was an Indian Forest Service officer who died in the line of duty. That personal loss gives her a strong reason to fight the illegal red sandalwood trade. She leads an operation codenamed OM.
Dhanush plays a woodcutter who gets caught in the red sandalwood business. Mammootty plays Burma Karthikeyan, also known as Siya or “The Elder One”. The film’s story brings these characters together. Director Rajkumar has said the film cannot be narrowly labelled as a gangster drama. “It is an emotional story,” he said.
Sai Pallavi spoke about working with Rajkumar again after Amaran. She said she told him she wanted to be part of his next film. “He believed in my police role more than me,” she said. She also praised the way Rajkumar writes women characters, calling him “every actress’s dream director”.
Sreeleela and Naseeruddin Shah Join the Cast
Sreeleela plays a character named Roja. The song ‘Senjudare’ introduced her character. At the audio launch, Sreeleela shared her excitement about working with the cast. She said Dhanush was one of the first big names to call her during her Telugu debut. “I’m a fan and happy to work with Indian cinema’s trophy,” she said.
Naseeruddin Shah is also part of the film. The veteran Hindi actor returns to Tamil cinema after 26 years. His only previous Tamil film was Kamal Haasan’s Hey Ram in 2000, where he played Mahatma Gandhi. Indrans and Chaitu Jonnalagadda round out the supporting cast.
Release Date, Languages, and Production Details
OM: Chapter 1 – Udhiram: The Blood Wood will release in theatres on November 20, 2026. The film will arrive in Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, and Kannada. The release was moved from its original October 16 date to avoid a box-office clash with Rajinikanth’s Jailer 2.
Sithara Entertainments is handling the Telugu release of the film. Dhanush produces the film under his Wunderbar Films banner, along with Shraddha Agrawal and Azmat Jagmag under RTake Studios. Sai Abhyankkar composes the music. Ezhil Arasu K handles the camera. R Kalaivanan is the editor.
Director Rajkumar has clarified that the “Chapter 1” in the title does not mean the story will be left open. “The narrative will completely conclude and end within this chapter itself,” he said.
Dhanush Apologises to Fans Denied Entry
The audio launch drew thousands of fans. The large crowd led to problems at the venue. Many fans with valid passes could not enter the auditorium because it reached full capacity. Dhanush addressed the issue on social media.
“It pains me deeply that thousands of fans who had tickets in hand were unable to get in and had to turn back. I don’t want to investigate whose fault this was… I take full responsibility and express my regret. It’s my responsibility to make sure this doesn’t happen again,” Dhanush wrote on X.
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The film marks the first time Dhanush and Mammootty share screen space. Their pairing, along with Sai Pallavi’s role as a CBI officer and the red sandalwood backdrop, has drawn attention from cinema fans across India.
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