Oct 29, 2026 12:50pm IST
‘OM’ Chapters 1 and 2 Are Not Connected, Says Rajkumar Periasamy; Dhanush-Mammootty Film to Stand Alone
Director Rajkumar Periasamy has clarified that the two chapters of “OM” will not be connected narratively, with the first instalment, “OM Chapter 1: Udhiram – The Blood Wood”, designed to tell a complete story of its own. The upcoming film stars Dhanush and Mammootty, alongside Sai Pallavi, Sreeleela, Naseeruddin Shah and Indrans.
As per Movie Tamil, Periasamy explained that the film was not shot as a bilingual production, despite being intended for audiences in both Tamil and Telugu. “Chapter 1 — Udhiram: The Blood Wood will have a complete story of its own. We haven’t shot it as a bilingual film, but both Tamil and Telugu audiences will feel that it’s a film made directly for them,” he said.
The clarification comes as the film is being positioned as the first chapter of a larger franchise. Periasamy’s comments suggest that viewers will not need to wait for the second instalment to see the first story reach its conclusion, while leaving the broader direction of the franchise open.
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The director also addressed comparisons between Mammootty’s character, Burma Karthikeyan, and the world of “Rangoon”. Asked whether the character evoked the setting and atmosphere of the 2017 film starring Gautham Karthik, Periasamy said “OM” should not be narrowly defined as a gangster drama.
“The film cannot be narrowly labelled as just a gangster drama. It is an emotional story. Generally, when films are set in Tirunelveli, you can sense a certain unity associated with that place. Similarly, Burma is the unifying element in this film,” he said.
He elaborated on how the narrative brings together characters with different motivations, describing the story as one with several branches that ultimately converge.
“Just like a tree with many branches, this story also has several branches. Everyone comes together for a particular reason. What that reason is and why they unite for it — that is what the story is all about,” Periasamy added.
Mammootty plays Burma Karthikeyan, a powerful figure also known as Siya or “The Elder One”, while Dhanush leads the ensemble. The film also features Sai Pallavi as Nithya Reddy, with Naseeruddin Shah, Sreeleela and Indrans among the cast.
Written and directed by Periasamy, “OM Chapter 1: Udhiram – The Blood Wood” is scheduled to release in theatres on November 20, 2026. The film was earlier slated for October 16 before its release was postponed to avoid a clash with Rajinikanth’s “Jailer 2” and the Diwali release window.
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