Born as Venkatesh Prabhu Kasthuri Raja, he took over the screen name Dhanush, when he first appeared on screen at the tender age of 19 in the movie, Thulluvadho Ilamai. With his unconventional looks and waif thin body, the audience and critics immediately wrote him off. However, to everyone’s surprise, he metamorphosed into a great actor, thanks to his powerful performances and impressive dance moves.
Lately, he has also displayed his singing prowess with the song Why This Kolaveri which took the whole nation by storm. His star power actually encouraged Bollywood directors like Anand Rai and R. Balki to cast him in their films Raanjhana and Shamitabh, both of which were highly appreciated.
However, he remains partial to Tamil films and has been dishing out some great movies for quite some time now.
Kaadhal Kondein
One of his earlier films, Dhanush plays an introvert college guy who falls in love with his only female friend and eventually gets so obsessed that he kidnaps her. Sonia Agarwal played the female lead in this film, where Dhanush has played the role of a psychotic lover with complete conviction. This was the movie which gave the audience a first glimpse of his talent.
Pudhupettai
This film got rave reviews from both the critics and the audience alike. Dhanush plays the role of an innocent guy turned goon with a number of enemies thirsty for his blood. He played the character with total ease and coupled with amazing direction and a great storyline, this is undoubtedly one of the best Dhanush film till date.
3
With Dhanush and Shruti Haasan in the lead, this film portrayed the life of a young married couple where the husband suffers from bipolar disorder. A romantic psychological thriller, Dhanush played the role of the ill husband with perfection and was applauded for his performance. The very famous Why This Kolaveri Di song is a part of this film.
Aadukalam
Dhanush won the prestigious National Award for Best Actor for this film. Based on the rooster fights which are quite popular in Tamil Nadu, he took on the local dialect and body language which is what got him rosy points. The interesting storyline also worked wonders and the film went on to win National Award for Best Director and Best Screenplay too.
Maryan
A must watch film for the gripping story and amazing performance by Dhanush, he plays a poor fisherman who moves to Sudan looking for greener pastures but is instead kidnapped by the mercenaries there. Set in the India of yore, this film won lots of accolades from the critics and audiences alike.
Mayakkam Enna
Another feather in Dhanush’s cap, this is the story of a young married couple whose life turns a drastic turn when the husband becomes an alcoholic and reaches the level of insanity. Fabulous performances by Dhanush and leading lady Richa Gangopadhyay and relatable storyline are the strengths of this film.
So, if you haven’t already seen these movies, make sure to add these to your must watch list.
