OM director Rajkumar Periasamy has explained how Mammootty came on board his Dhanush-led film, and why the film's release moved from October 16 to November 20. In an interview published on October 16, the Amaran director said the Malayalam star answered his synopsis within minutes but took months to commit.
How Mammootty said yes to OM
Rajkumar told the paper that he contacted Mammootty around March last year and sent him a synopsis. The reply came in 15 to 20 minutes, and Mammootty wrote, "I like what I read." He added that a full narration would have to wait.
The director recalled that he then heard nothing for four to five months, as the actor was on a break from acting. Later, Mammootty's manager called him over for the narration, and the actor agreed to do the film after hearing it in full.
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Why OM moved to November 20
OM was first planned for October 16, the same week as Rajinikanth's Jailer 2. According to the interview, Dhanush hinted in August that the film might have to move out of respect for Rajinikanth, and he was firm about it once the OTT partner agreed to the change. Mammootty announced the new date on X on October 2, and producer Wunderbar Films followed with a promo on October 8.
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The shift has one side effect for Kerala audiences. November 20 is also the release date of Aakasamlo Oka Tara, Dulquer Salmaan's fourth Telugu film, which Dulquer confirmed again in his teaser post on October 17. Mammootty and his son will open in theatres on the same Friday, in two different languages.
Mammootty's first Tamil film since Peranbu
OM is Mammootty's first Tamil film since Ram's Peranbu, which released on February 1, 2019. He plays Burma Karthikeyan, a smuggler nicknamed Siya, introduced in a character video in September. He also has an earlier link with Dhanush, who had a cameo in Mammootty's Proprietors: Kammath and Kammath.
Headlined by Dhanush, OM also features Sai Pallavi, Sreeleela, Naseeruddin Shah and Indrans. Sai Abhyankkar composes the music, and the film is produced by Wunderbar Films with RTake Studios. Rajkumar told the paper that OM is billed as Chapter 1, but will tell a complete story without a cliffhanger.
Mammootty's work front
Apart from OM, Mammootty is shooting Mela, directed by Nithish Sahadev and produced under Mammootty Kampany. The film passed 67 days of shooting this month and is set for a 2027 release. OM, meanwhile, reaches theatres worldwide on November 20.
