Chennai: Sai Pallavi’s character Nithya Reddy from the upcoming Dhanush and Mammootty-starrer Om – Chapter 1: Udhiram – The Blood Wood was unveiled by the makers on Monday, October 26, 2026. The film, written and directed by Rajkumar Periyasamy, is scheduled to release in theatres on November 20.
The character glimpse introduces Sai Pallavi as an officer investigating the smuggling of red sanders, a valuable tree species that has been at the centre of illegal trafficking cases in Andhra Pradesh. Nithya Reddy is portrayed as a sharp and experienced officer tasked with investigating the illegal trade as part of an operation titled Om.
Rajkumar Periyasamy previously collaborated with Sai Pallavi on Amaran (2024), in which she played Indhu Rebecca Varghese opposite Sivakarthikeyan.
Sai Pallavi’s character has a police and CBI background
In the video glimpse, Nithya Reddy is described as a combination of “honesty, smartness, and experience in a young blood”.
The character is introduced as the daughter of a martyred Indian Forest Service officer from Naidupet. She initially served as an Assistant Superintendent of Police in the Andhra Pradesh police cadre before being promoted to Additional Superintendent of Police in the Central Bureau of Investigation, where she works with Interpol.
The glimpse shows her investigating red sanders smuggling through Operation Om. The character’s background combines policing, investigation and international cooperation, positioning her as an important part of the film’s central narrative.
The makers’ introduction of Nithya Reddy adds another dimension to the film’s ensemble, with Sai Pallavi taking on a role centred on law enforcement and the investigation of organised smuggling.
Dhanush and Mammootty headline the film
Om – Chapter 1: Udhiram – The Blood Wood features Dhanush and Mammootty in the lead roles. Mammootty’s character, Burma Karthikeyan, was introduced in an earlier glimpse released by the makers.
The film also stars Sreeleela, Sanjay Swaroop and Naseeruddin Shah, who will make his Tamil debut with the project.
The title and character introductions suggest a story involving crime and the illegal red sanders trade, although further details about the plot have not been fully disclosed.
Rajkumar Periyasamy directs the project
Rajkumar Periyasamy is writing and directing the film after his work on Amaran, the 2024 military drama featuring Sivakarthikeyan and Sai Pallavi.
Dhanush is producing the project under his Wunderbar Films banner, alongside Shraddha Agrawal and Azmat Jagmag. RTake Studios is also backing the film.
The technical team includes Sai Abhyankkar as music composer, Ezhil Arasu K as cinematographer, R Kalaivanan as editor and A Pannerselvam as art director. Action sequences are being choreographed by Yannick Ben and Kecha Khamphakdee.
With its ensemble cast and crime-investigation premise, Om – Chapter 1: Udhiram – The Blood Wood is set for a theatrical release on November 20, 2026.