Director Rajkumar Periasamy Reveals Mammootty Was His First Choice for ‘OM’
As anticipation builds for the high-octane entertainer OM Chapter 1: Udhiram – The Blood Wood, director Rajkumar Periasamy has offered fans a behind-the-scenes look at the film’s star-studded casting process. In a recent revelation, the director shared that the legendary Malayalam actor Mammootty was his primary pick for the pivotal character of Karthikeyan.
A Dream Ensemble Cast
The upcoming action spectacle boasts an enviable cast, featuring powerhouse performer Dhanush in the lead role. However, Periasamy emphasized that his vision for the project was meticulously planned from the start.
“Even before entering principal production, I had a specific wishlist of actors,” Periasamy shared in an interview with Variety India. “The very first pick was Mammootty Sir for the character of Karthikeyan. The same principle applied to all our casting decisions—whether it was Dhanush, Indrans, Naseeruddin Shah, Sai Pallavi, or Sreeleela. When I approached them with the script, they readily accepted, and I am delighted with how everything has come together.”
The inclusion of Mammootty alongside Dhanush adds significant weight to the project. The two stars previously shared the screen in the 2013 Malayalam film Kammath & Kammath, and their reunion in this pan-Indian project is already generating massive buzz among cinema enthusiasts.
Production Progress and Completion
The project is nearing the finish line, with the director confirming that only minimal patchwork remains. Mammootty officially wrapped up his shooting schedule for the film this past July. His production banner, Mammootty Kampany, celebrated the milestone by sharing a video of the actor returning to Kochi, signaling the successful completion of his sequences.
Addressing the Industry’s Scheduling Challenges
During the discussion, Periasamy also shed light on the frequent release date shifts common in South Indian cinema. He noted that such delays are rarely the result of a single factor, citing post-production requirements, coordination of star availability, and securing necessary location permissions as primary hurdles.
“Often, it is because many filmmakers are eyeing the same prime release dates,” Periasamy explained. “With a limited number of theaters available, producers frequently have to wait for the next optimal window if their first choice is unavailable.”
Following these considerations, the team has locked in a theatrical release date of October 16, 2026. As the film nears completion, audiences remain eager to see how this ambitious vision, headlined by Mammootty and a stellar supporting cast, unfolds on the big screen.
