The trailer of O.M: Chapter 1 – Udhiram: The Blood Wood has finally arrived, bringing Dhanush, Mammootty and Sai Pallavi together for a crime thriller centred on the illegal red sandalwood trade. Directed by Rajkumar Periasamy, the nearly three-minute preview introduces an undercover police mission, a dangerous smuggling network and characters operating on different sides of the law. With its forest setting, political connections and intense confrontations, the film promises a story that goes beyond a conventional cop-versus-criminal drama.
Dhanush goes undercover in a dangerous smuggling network
Dhanush plays a Tamil Nadu police officer who infiltrates a red sandalwood smuggling syndicate by disguising himself as a woodcutter. His assignment involves gaining the criminals’ trust and identifying the people controlling the illegal operation. The trailer offers glimpses of his life inside the network, including forest sequences, violent confrontations and moments that make his actual loyalties difficult to understand.
This undercover angle is one of the most interesting elements of the preview. Rather than introducing Dhanush as a police officer who simply confronts criminals, the story places him inside the very organisation he is supposed to destroy. That creates an opportunity for tension, particularly when his actions appear to put him against the police.
Sai Pallavi and Mammootty bring another dimension
Sai Pallavi plays IPS officer Nithya Reddy, who leads Operation Mole, the police mission that appears to explain the film’s abbreviated title, O.M. Her character is directly involved in the operation, giving her an important position in the narrative rather than limiting her to a supporting role.
Mammootty, meanwhile, appears as a powerful figure connected to the red sandalwood business. His character carries an intimidating presence, and the trailer suggests that he operates with considerable influence behind the criminal network. The combination of Dhanush and Mammootty is particularly interesting because this marks their first collaboration, while Sai Pallavi adds another strong performer to the central cast.
Sreeleela also features as Dhanush’s wife, while Naseeruddin Shah and Indrans are part of the supporting ensemble.
What makes O.M different from a regular action thriller?
The red sandalwood trade gives the film a specific real-world backdrop. Red sanders are a valuable and heavily protected tree species associated with the Seshachalam hills of Andhra Pradesh. The illegal trade has involved organised smuggling networks and vulnerable labourers, making the subject more complicated than a fictional battle between two opposing groups.
Director Rajkumar Periasamy previously delivered Amaran, and O.M represents his return with another story involving police operations and high-stakes conflict. The trailer also hints at an emotional foundation inspired partly by real-life incidents, according to the filmmaker.
O.M: Chapter 1 – Udhiram: The Blood Wood is produced by Dhanush, Shraddha Agrawal and Azmat Jagmag under Wunderbar Films and RTake Studios. With Sai Abhyankkar composing the music, the film is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on November 20, 2026.
The trailer successfully establishes the central conflict and makes the Dhanush-Mammootty combination its biggest attraction. The real test, however, will be whether the screenplay gives the undercover operation enough twists and emotional depth to sustain the story beyond its action-heavy moments.
