Dhanush is an Indian actor, film producer, screenwriter and film director known for his work in Tamil cinema. He has also appeared in some Hindi, Telugu, English, and Malayalam films. He made his acting debut in 2002 with the coming of age drama, Thulluvadho Ilamai, directed by his father Kasthuri Raja. His role as a mentally-disturbed man in Kaadhal Kondein (2003)directed by his brother Selvaraghavanwon him critical acclaim. The following year, he starred in Subramaniam Siva's Thiruda Thirudi, a commercial success. This was followed by a series of commercial failuresPudhukottaiyilirundhu Saravanan (2004), Sullan (2004) and Dreams (2004). He had two releases in 2005Devathaiyai Kanden and Adhu Oru Kana Kaalam.
In 2006, Dhanush starred in the gangster film Pudhupettai, which was critically acclaimed and moderately successful at the box-office. He next collaborated with debutant director Vetrimaaran in Polladhavan (2007). It was critically acclaimed and commercially successful. His subsequent releasesYaaradi Nee Mohini (2008) and Padikkadavanwere box-office successes. He collaborated with Vetrimaaran for the second time in Aadukalam (2011). His role as a rooster fight jockey in the film won him that year's National Film Award for Best Actor and the Best Tamil Actor Award at the 60th Filmfare Awards South. In 2012, he received international attention with the song "Why This Kolaveri Di", which was recorded for Aishwarya R. Dhanush's directorial debut 3. His role as a man who is suffering from bipolar disorder in the film won him his second Filmfare Award.
Dhanush made his Bollywood debut with Aanand L. Rai's Raanjhanaa (2013). His performance as an obsessive one-sided lover in the film won him the Best Male Debut Award and earned a Best Actor nomination at the 59th Filmfare Awards. The same year he was seen in the survival film Maryan, which won him Best Actor Award (Critics) at the 61st Filmfare Awards South. In 2014, he produced and starred in cinematographer R. Velraj's directorial debut, Velaiilla Pattadhari, which was critically acclaimed as well as a box-office success. His performance as an unemployed graduate won a third Filmfare Award in the Best Tamil Actor category.
In 2015, Dhanush co-starred with Amitabh Bachchan in R. Balki's Shamitabh, where he played a mute superstar. The following year Dhanush played three roles in K. V. Anand's romantic thriller Anegan (2015) and a gangster in Balaji Mohan's Maari (2015), both becoming moderately success at the box office. He collaborated with Velraj's Thanga Magan (2015), which did not perform well at the box office when compared to his previous film. Dhanush had two releases in 2016Prabhu Solomon's Thodari, a critical and commercial failure; and the political drama Kodi, where he played dual roles. The latter earned him a Best Tamil Actor nomination at the 64th Filmfare Awards South. The following year, he made his directorial debut with Pa. Pandi. In 2018, Dhanush made his first international film appearance with the English-language French film The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir. For his performance in Asuran (2019), he won his second National Film Award for Best Actor.
As an actor
All films are in Tamil, unless mentioned otherwise. + Year Title Role Notes 2002Thulluvadho Ilamai Mahesh 2003Kaadhal Kondein VinodThiruda Thirudi Vasudevan2004Pudhukottaiyilirundhu Saravanan Saravanan Sullan Subramani (Sullan)Dreams Sakthi2005Devathaiyai Kanden BabuAdhu Oru Kana Kaalam Srinivasan2006Pudhupettai Kokki KumarThiruvilaiyaadal Aarambam Thiru Kumaran2007Parattai Engira Azhagu Sundaram Azhagu Sundaram alias ParattaiPolladhavan Prabhu Shankar2008Yaaradi Nee Mohini VasudevanKuselan Himself Guest appearance in the song "Cinema Cinema" 2009Padikkadavan Radhakrishnan "Rocky"2010Kutty KuttyUthamaputhiran Siva Ramakrishnan2011Aadukalam K. P. KaruppuSeedan Saravanan Cameo Mappillai SaravananVenghai SelvamMayakkam Enna Karthik Swaminathan 20123 Ramachandran "Ram"2013Proprietors: Kammath & Kammath Himself Malayalam film; guest appearanceEthir Neechal Soup boy Guest appearance Raanjhanaa Kundan ShankarHindi filmMaryan MaryanNaiyaandi Chinna Vandu 2014Velaiilla Pattadhari Raghuvaran "Raghu" 25th film2015Shamitabh Danish alias "Shamitabh" Hindi filmAneganAshwin, Murugappa, Kaali and IllamaranVai Raja Vai Kokki Kumar CameoMaari MaariThanga Magan Thamizh2016Thodari PoochiyappanKodi Kodi, Anbu2017Pa. Pandi Also director and screenwriterVelaiilla Pattadhari 2 Raghuvaran "Raghu" Also screenwriter2018The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir Ajatashatru Lavash PatelEnglish filmVada Chennai AnbuMaari 2 Maariyappan "Maari"2019Asuran SivasaamyEnai Noki Paayum Thota Raghu 2020PattasSakthi alias "Pattas", Dhiraviyaperumal2021Karnan Karnan Jagame Thandhiram SuruliAtrangi ReS. Venkatesh Vishwanath "Vishu" IyerHindi film2022MaaranMathimaaran "Maaran" SathyamoorthyThe Gray ManAvik San alias "Lone Wolf"English film ThiruchitrambalamThiruchitrambalam Jr. alias "Pazham" Naane VaruveanKathir, Prabhu Also screenwriter2023 Vaathi/SirBalamurugan "Bala" / Bal Gangadhar Tilak "Balu" Tamil-Telugu bilingual film2024 Captain Miller Analeesan "Easa" / Captain Miller Raayan Kathavaraayan "Raayan" 50th film; Also writer and director2025Kuberaa Deva Telugu-Tamil bilingual film Idli Kadai Murugan SivanesanAlso writer, director and co-producer Tere Ishk Mein Shankar Gurukkal Hindi film2026 Kara Karasaami "Kara" Filming Filming Announced
As a producer All films are in Tamil, unless mentioned otherwise. + Year Title Notes 20123 2013Ethir Neechal 2014Velaiilla Pattadhari2015Kaaki SattaiKaaka MuttaiMaariNaanum Rowdy DhaanThanga Magan2016Visaranai Amma Kanakku2017Cinema VeeranPa. PandiVelaiilla Pattadhari 2Tharangam Malayalam film2018KaalaVada Chennai Maari 22025Nilavaku En Mel Ennadi KobamIdli Kadai co-produced with Aakash Baskaran2026 FilmingAnnounced
As a director + Year Title 2017 Pa. Pandi 2024 Raayan 2025Nilavuku En Mel Ennadi Kobam Idli Kadai
As a lyricist Note: he is credited as Poetu Dhanush. (D) indicates dubbing. +List of lyrics by Dhanush Year Title Album Composer Notes2011"Pirai Thedum"Mayakkam EnnaG. V. Prakash Kumar"Voda Voda Dhooram Korayala""Kadhal En Kadhal"2012"Come On Girls"3Anirudh Ravichander"Nee Partha Vizhigal""Why This Kolaveri Di""Kannazhaga""Po Nee Po""Po Nee Po (Remix)" 2013"Nijamellam Maranthu Pochu"Ethir Neechal "Boomi Enna Suthude""Kadal Raasa Naan"MaryanA. R. Rahman2014"Vellailla Pattathari"Velaiilla PattadhariAnirudh Ravichander"Amma Amma""Po Indru Neeyaga""What a Karavad""Ey Inga Paru""Udhungada Sangu""Move Your Body"Vai Raja Vai Yuvan Shankar Raja2015"Oh Oh"Thanga MaganAnirudh Ravichander"Enna Solla""Tak Bak""Jodi Nilave""Oru Vidha Aasai"Maari "Don'u Don'u Don'u""Maari Thara Local"2016"Kodi"KodiSanthosh Narayanan2017"Soorakathu"Pa. PandiSean Roldan"Venpani Malare""Life of Raghuvaran"Velaiilla Pattadhari 2Sean Roldan"Angel of Raghuvaran""Torture of Raghuvaran"2018"Rowdy Baby"Maari 2Yuvan Shankar Raja"Maari's Anandhi"2019"Ilamai Thirumbudhe"Petta Anirudh Ravichander"Nenjodu Vinaa"Brother's Day4 MusicsMalayalam film2021"Nethu"Jagame ThandhiramSanthosh Narayanan"Little Little"Galatta Kalyaanam (D)A. R. RahmanDubbed version 2022"Chittu Kuruvi"MaaranG. V. Prakash Kumar"Thaai Kelavi"ThiruchitrambalamAnirudh Ravichander"Megham Karukaatha""Thenmozhi""Mayakkama Kalakkama" "Kanneer Sindha""Rendu Raaja"Naane VaruveanYuvan Shankar Raja2023"Vaa Vaathi"Vaathi G. V. Prakash Kumar"One Life""Vaa Vaathi (Reprise)"2024"Adangaatha Asuran"RaayanA. R. Rahman"Oh Raaya""Kadhal Fail"Nilavuku En Mel Ennadi KobamG. V. Prakash Kumar2025"Pulla" "Pulla (Reprise)" "Enna Sugam"Idli KadaiG. V. Prakash Kumar "Enjaami Thandhaane" "Yen Paattan Saami Varum" "Chinnaware"Tere Ishk MeinA. R. RahmanHindi film "Chinnaware" Tere Ishk Mein - (((D))) A. R. Rahman Tamil dubbed film "Chinnaware" Tere Ishk Mein - (((D))) A. R. Rahman Telugu dubbed film2026 "Kannamma En Kannamma" Kara G. V. Prakash Kumar
See also Wunderbar Films List of awards and nominations received by Dhanush
Notes
References
External links
Dhanush on Bollywood Hungama