Highlights:
- Sai Pallavi moves from her graceful portrayal of Sita in Ramayana to an IPS officer in Om.
- She plays Nithya Reddy, who leads Andhra Pradesh's Exclusive Special Task Force.
- Dhanush goes undercover as a woodcutter to infiltrate a red sandalwood smuggling syndicate.
- Mammootty plays Siya, a mysterious figure allegedly controlling the illegal trade.
- Director Rajkumar Periasamy says a real-life incident he encountered in 2014 inspired the film's emotional foundation.
- Om is scheduled to release worldwide on November 20 in five languages.
After being associated with the grace and simplicity of Sita in Ramayana, actor Sai Pallavi is preparing to enter a very different cinematic world. The actor takes on the role of a determined IPS officer in Om: Chapter 1, Udhiram: The Blood Wood, an upcoming action thriller starring Dhanush and Mammootty.
The film's trailer, unveiled by the makers on Friday, November 13, offers a glimpse of Sai Pallavi as Nithya Reddy, an officer leading the Exclusive Special Task Force in Andhra Pradesh. Her character is at the center of a high-stakes operation targeting an illegal red sandalwood smuggling network.
Directed by Rajkumar Periasamy, Om brings together Dhanush, Sai Pallavi and Mammootty in a story set against the forests of Andhra Pradesh. While Dhanush goes undercover to infiltrate the smuggling syndicate, Sai Pallavi's character appears to lead the operation from the law enforcement side.
Sai Pallavi's new role: From Sita to IPS officer
Sai Pallavi's casting offers a striking contrast to the traditional, graceful image associated with her portrayal of Sita in Ramayana. In Om, she plays Nithya Reddy, an IPS officer responsible for leading Operation Mole, a mission aimed at dismantling the illegal trade.
The trailer introduces her as a key figure in the joint operation involving police forces from Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Her character is tasked with taking on a powerful network operating in the Seshachalam forest region.
Unlike the quiet and composed image of Sita, Nithya Reddy appears to occupy a position of authority in a crime thriller involving undercover operations, dangerous encounters and a complex smuggling network.
The trailer does not reveal the full extent of her character's involvement, but it establishes her as an important part of the investigation.
Dhanush goes undercover, Mammootty plays the mastermind
Dhanush plays an officer from Tamil Nadu's Organised Crime Intelligence Unit who is assigned to infiltrate the red sandalwood smuggling syndicate. Disguised as a woodcutter, he enters the network and gradually gains the confidence of those involved in the illegal trade.
However, the trailer hints that his mission may not be straightforward. Some sequences show him appearing to fight against the police, leaving questions about his position within the operation.
Mammootty plays Siya, a mysterious figure who seemingly controls the illegal business from behind the scenes. The trailer suggests that he is a powerful presence within the syndicate, although the makers have kept several details about his character under wraps.
The three actors appear to represent different sides of a story involving law enforcement, undercover operations and organized crime.
The real story behind the red sandalwood trade
Set in the Seshachalam forest region of Andhra Pradesh, the film draws attention to the illegal trade in red sandalwood, also known as red sanders. The rare and valuable wood is found predominantly in the Seshachalam hills and has attracted international demand, particularly in markets such as China and Japan.
The trade has also drawn economically disadvantaged laborers from northern Tamil Nadu into dangerous work in the forests. Their involvement has been associated with fatal incidents over the years.
According to NDTV's report on the trailer, director Rajkumar Periasamy has also spoken about the real-life inspiration behind the film's emotional foundation.
In an earlier conversation with Galatta Plus, Periasamy recalled watching a 30-second video in 2014 that featured a two-and-a-half-year-old girl at a ceremony. The image stayed with him for more than a decade and eventually became an important inspiration for the screenplay.
Why Was Om postponed?
The film was initially scheduled to release on October 16. However, Dhanush, who is also producing the project, announced a postponement to avoid a clash with Rajinikanth's Jailer 2, which was scheduled to arrive in theaters on October 15.
Explaining the decision in a note on X, Dhanush said, "Our superstar, Rajinikanth sir, the man whom we have all admired and worshipped over the years, has his film arriving on October 15, just a day before ours. Out of immense respect for him, we have decided to postpone the release of our film."
The makers also decided against releasing the film during the Diwali window to avoid competing with Suriya's Scene.
Written and directed by Rajkumar Periasamy, Om: Chapter 1, Udhiram: The Blood Wood marks his latest directorial project after Amaran, for which he won the National Award for Best Director.
The film also features Sreeleela alongside Dhanush, Sai Pallavi and Mammootty. Produced by Dhanush, Shraddha Agrawal and Azmat Jagmag under Wunderbar Films and RTake Studios, it is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on November 20.
The film will release in Tamil, with dubbed versions in Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam and Kannada.
