Dhanush has postponed the theatrical release of OM from October 16, 2026, to avoid a box-office clash with Rajinikanth’s upcoming film and has also ruled out a Diwali release because Suriya’s film had already reserved the festive window.

Dhanush postpones OM from October 16 release
Actor Dhanush has officially postponed his upcoming Tamil film OM, which was originally scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on October 16, 2026. The decision comes after Rajinikanth’s upcoming film was scheduled to arrive in cinemas on October 15, just one day earlier. Announcing the change, Dhanush acknowledged that shifting a film’s release comes with several challenges but said the team decided to move OM to a later date out of respect for Rajinikanth, whom he described as a superstar admired by generations of audiences. A revised release date has not yet been announced.

Diwali release also ruled out due to Suriya film
Dhanush also confirmed that the makers will not shift OM to the Diwali 2026 release window. Suriya’s upcoming film had already been announced for the festival period, and Dhanush said it would be fair to respect the release date declared earlier by that team. He stressed that major films should maintain mutual understanding regarding release schedules and take decisions keeping the broader interests of cinema and the film industry in mind. The statement effectively rules out two major release windows for OM as the team searches for a suitable new date.

OM features Dhanush, Mammootty and Sai Pallavi
Titled OM: Chapter 1 (Udhiram - The Blood Wood), the upcoming action thriller stars Dhanush alongside Mammootty, Sai Pallavi and Sreeleela. The film is directed by Rajkumar Periasamy and is said to be inspired by real-life events, although the makers have kept major details of the storyline under wraps. The project is backed by Wunderbar Films and R Take Studios, while Sai Abhyankkar is composing the music. The film had initially been planned as a major October 16 worldwide theatrical release.

Postponement follows National Awards recognition
The release change comes shortly after members of the OM team received recognition at the National Awards. Dhanush received the Best Actor Special Mention, while co-star Mammootty was also among this year’s award recipients. Director Rajkumar Periasamy and editor R Kalaivanan were recognised as well, with the team celebrating their achievements together on the sets of OM in July. With the October and Diwali windows now ruled out, attention turns to when the makers will announce the film’s new theatrical release date.