Mammootty and Dhanush Toast Their National Awards on the ‘OM’ Set

It was a low‑key affair, but the smiles were big. On the bustling sets of the much‑anticipated Tamil action‑thriller OM, veteran Malayalam star Mammootty and multi‑talented Tamil actor‑director Dhanush gathered around a modest cake to mark the fact that both of them had just added another National Film Award to their shelves.

Mammootty, who lifted his fourth National Award for Best Actor with the haunting drama Brayamugam, posted a series of candid snaps on Instagram. In the caption he wrote, “A small celebration of our National Award wins with Dhanush, Rajkumar Perisamy and R Kalaivanan on the sets of OM. Grateful for all the love and wishes.” The post, peppered with a few emojis and a friendly nod to his son Dulquer Salmaan’s teasing comment, quickly gathered likes from fans across India.

Dhanush, fresh off a double honour at the 72nd National Film Awards – Best Tamil Film for his directorial debut Raayan and a Special Mention for his performance in Captain Miller – also joined the modest gathering. He later shared a short note saying, “This is the third national award as an actor but recognition for directing Raayan is a different milestone. A first is always unforgettable.” The modest cake, a simple chocolate slab, seemed symbolic of the grounded humility both stars have repeatedly shown despite their towering fame.

Sharing the spotlight were director Rajkumar Perisamy, who snagged the Best Director trophy for the socially‑charged film Amaran, and editor R Kalaivanan, the editor behind the same project who earned the Best Editing award. Their presence turned the celebration into a mini‑award‑season reunion, reminding everyone that cinema is, at its core, a collaborative craft.

For those curious about the film that set the stage for this celebration, OM: Chapter 1 – Udhiram (The Blood Wood) promises a blend of high‑octane action and gritty drama. Starring Dhanush, Mammootty, Sai Pallavi and Sreeleela, the movie draws inspiration from real‑life events, though the full storyline remains under wraps. Backed by Wunderbar Films and R Take Studios, and scored by composer Sai Abhyankkar, the film is slated for a worldwide release on October 16. Meanwhile, Dhanush’s calendar also lists the upcoming venture Thamizh Murugan, and Mammootty is juggling several Malayalam projects, including Patriot and Law and Order.