This paper presents the synthesis, characterization, linear and third-order nonlinear optical (TNLO) features of a novel organic compound Pyridylcarboxamide chalcone (PCC) using aldol condensation and carboxamide formation method. The organic compound is characterized by 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, mass spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy techniques and the title compound is optimized by DFT method. The solvent effect on linear and TNLO features of PCC is studied and significant changes are found in the linear and TNLO characteristics of the compound. The nonlinear refractive index (n2) and nonlinear absorption coefficient (β) of PCC is calculated to be the order of 10−7 cm2/W and 10−3 cm/W. The n2 of PCC is ascribed to negative nonlinearity due to self-defocusing effect and the β of PCC is attributed to the phenomenon of saturable and reverse saturable absorption (RSA) behaviors. The order of TNLO susceptibility (χ(3)) of PCC in polar solvents is calculated to be 10─6 esu. The effect of solvent characteristics such as solvent polarizability and dipole moment on the TNLO susceptibility of PCC is discussed. The results reveal that, the organic compound studied here is a novel material for future applications in nonlinear optics.