OM: Burma is the emotional thread, says Rajkumar Periasamy

When a film brings together Mammootty, Dhanush, Naseeruddin Shah, Sai Pallavi and Sreeleela, the first question is rarely “who is in it?” It is what could possibly connect them. Director Rajkumar Periasamy has now offered an answer, and it is more emotional than action-driven.

Burma is the emotional thread

Rajkumar told Cinema Vikatan that OM should not be described simply as a gangster drama. He called it “an emotional story” and said Burma is the common thread, much like Tirunelveli often anchors films set there.

He pictured the plot as a tree with many branches. Different characters come together for a shared reason, and the film is built around what that reason is.

Chapter 1, but not a cliffhanger

The full title is OM — Chapter 1: Udhiram — The Blood Wood. A “Chapter 1” label usually suggests the payoff will arrive later, but Rajkumar clarified that this is a complete story. “This is not a continuing story. The story will conclude within this chapter itself,” he said.

Mammootty was the first call

Mammootty plays Burma Karthikeyan, and he was Rajkumar’s first choice. The director approached the Malayalam superstar and then waited for him to become available. After hearing the narration, Mammootty agreed to join, a decision that gave the film greater confidence.

Dhanush in unfamiliar territory

Rajkumar was full of praise for Dhanush, saying the actor kept surprising him on set, sometimes on the very first take. He said Dhanush has never played a role like this before and genuinely stunned him with his adaptability.

The director also made it clear that Mammootty’s character should not be reduced to an underworld-don image. The film gives him a distinctive world and emotional depth.

How the ensemble prepared

• Sai Pallavi and Sreeleela: Both play roles that differ from their usual screen image and attended workshops to prepare.
• Naseeruddin Shah: Came aboard after reading the complete script, a sign of confidence in the writing.
• Indrans: Holds an important role; Rajkumar admired his performance in the Malayalam film Home.

Why it matters for fans

Multi-star Tamil films often sell themselves on scale alone. OM is being positioned differently: an emotional puzzle in which Burma is the unifying clue and the story ends in one sitting. That gives audiences a reason to trust the “Chapter 1” label rather than fear a sequel hook.

Sai Abhyankkar has composed the music, and Rajkumar expects the theme to stand out. Ezhil Arasu handles cinematography, while Kalaivanan is in charge of editing.

Source: The Times of India