# Dhanush filmography
The filmography of Dhanush (தனுஷ்), the Indian actor, producer, director, lyricist, and playback singer born Venkatesh Prabhu Kasthuri Raja in 1983, covers Tamil, Hindi, and English-language films from his 2002 screen debut in *Thulluvadho Ilamai* through more than two decades of work as a lead actor, writer, and director.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1333687/fullcredits) • [2](https://www.sunpictures.in/casts/dhanush/) • [3](https://tamilurl.com/filmographies/dhanush-movies/) His career is marked by two National Film Awards for Best Actor, a Hindi-language breakthrough, a Hollywood appearance, and a late move behind the camera.[4](https://mib.gov.in/sites/default/files/2024-08/annualreport2011-12-english.pdf) • [5](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1333687/awards/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Debut | *Thulluvadho Ilamai* (2002), a coming-of-age drama directed by his father, Kasthuri Raja[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1333687/fullcredits) |
| Early output | 25 films in his first ten years, including *Kadhal Kondein* (2003) and *Pudhupettai* (2006)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1333687/fullcredits) |
| National Awards | Best Actor for *Aadukalam* (58th awards) and for *Asuran* (2019 film); four National Film Awards in total, two as actor and two as producer[4](https://mib.gov.in/sites/default/files/2024-08/annualreport2011-12-english.pdf) • [5](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1333687/awards/) • [6](https://www.tamilmdb.com/crew/6212/dhanush) |
| Hindi debut | *Raanjhanaa* (2013), directed by Aanand L. Rai[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1333687/fullcredits) • [7](https://guides.justwatch.com/in/best-dhanush-movies-where-to-watch) |
| Musical milestone | "Why This Kolaveri Di" from *3* (2012) was the first Indian video to cross 100 million views on YouTube[7](https://guides.justwatch.com/in/best-dhanush-movies-where-to-watch) |
| Direction | Directorial debut *Pa Paandi* (2017); second directorial *Raayan* (2024), his 50th lead role[3](https://tamilurl.com/filmographies/dhanush-movies/) • [8](https://www.sunpictures.in/movies/raayan/) |
| Hollywood | Avik San in Netflix's *The Gray Man* (2022), directed by the Russo Brothers[9](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/dhanush-41-the-early-years-of-a-reluctant-actor-who-turned-into-a-unique-superstar-9480387/lite/) |
| Awards total | 46 wins and 57 nominations per IMDb[5](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1333687/awards/) |
## Debut and the first decade (2002 to 2010)
Dhanush entered films reluctantly. He was pushed into acting at 16 for his father Kasthuri Raja's directorial debut *Thulluvadho Ilamai* (2002), a coming-of-age story about six school boys, and later said he cried, threw tantrums, and fasted in protest before agreeing.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1333687/fullcredits) • [10](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/2267314dhanush-a-script-can-create-a-star-out-of-an-actor-no-matter-how-he-looks/83/) • [11](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/actor/dhanush) His father had worked as an assistant director for years before getting the chance to direct.[11](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/actor/dhanush)
His breakthrough came with *Kadhal Kondein* (2003), directed by his brother [Selvaraghavan](https://www.edgepedia.org/selvaraghavan), in which he played a mentally disturbed youth and won critical acclaim.[12](https://www.sacnilk.com/news/Dhanush_Tracing_the_Remarkable_Journey_of_a_Versatile_Actor_from_Thulluvadho_Ilamai_to_International_Acclaim_and_His__Film_Idli_Kadai) Commercially successful films followed, including *Thiruda Thirudi* (2003), *Sullan* (2004), *Devathayai Kanden* (2005), and *Pudhukottaiyilirundhu Saravanan* (2004), building a following among younger audiences.[12](https://www.sacnilk.com/news/Dhanush_Tracing_the_Remarkable_Journey_of_a_Versatile_Actor_from_Thulluvadho_Ilamai_to_International_Acclaim_and_His__Film_Idli_Kadai) Over the next ten years he appeared in 25 films.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1333687/fullcredits) The romantic comedy *[Yaaradi Nee Mohini](https://www.edgepedia.org/yaaradi-nee-mohini)* (2008) and the crime drama *Polladhavan* (2007) are among the better-rated titles of this stretch.[13](https://www.cinetrace.in/actors/dhanush)
## Breakthrough: Aadukalam and "Kolaveri Di" (2011 to 2012)
**Two milestones arrived within a year.** Vetrimaaran's *Aadukalam* (2011), an action drama about rooster fights, won Dhanush the National Film Award for Best Actor; the 58th [National Film Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/national-film-awards) presentation, held on 9 September 2011 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, saw President Pratibha Devisingh Patil present him the Rajat Kamal, and the award was shared with [Salim Kumar](https://www.edgepedia.org/salim-kumar) for *Adaminte Makan Abu*.[4](https://mib.gov.in/sites/default/files/2024-08/annualreport2011-12-english.pdf) • [7](https://guides.justwatch.com/in/best-dhanush-movies-where-to-watch) In the same year, the song "Why This Kolaveri Di", which he sang for *3* (2012), directed by [Aishwarya Rajinikanth](https://www.edgepedia.org/aishwarya-rajinikanth), became a viral hit and the first Indian video to cross 100 million views on YouTube, carrying his name far beyond Tamil cinema.[7](https://guides.justwatch.com/in/best-dhanush-movies-where-to-watch)
From 2011 to 2014 he won four [Filmfare Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/filmfare-awards) consecutively, for *Aadukalam* (2011), *3* (2012), *Maryan* (2013), and *Velaiyilla Pattathari* (2014).[11](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/actor/dhanush) Ten years after his debut, *Raanjhanaa*, his first Hindi film, took him to national prominence.[9](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/dhanush-41-the-early-years-of-a-reluctant-actor-who-turned-into-a-unique-superstar-9480387/lite/)
## Hindi and international work
Dhanush's Hindi films began with the tragic romance *Raanjhanaa* (2013), in which he played an obsessive one-sided lover.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1333687/fullcredits) • [7](https://guides.justwatch.com/in/best-dhanush-movies-where-to-watch) His other Hindi credits include *Shamitabh* (2015), playing a mute actor opposite [Amitabh Bachchan](https://www.edgepedia.org/amitabh-bachchan), and *Atrangi Re* (2021), which reunited him with *Raanjhanaa* director Aanand L. Rai.[7](https://guides.justwatch.com/in/best-dhanush-movies-where-to-watch)
His international debut came with Ken Scott's French-English film *The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir* (2018), an adaptation of a French novel, shot partly in Europe; the film met middling reviews and did little at the global box office, but the lead role brought him attention among international filmmakers.[14](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/dhanush-in-cinema-its-difficult-to-find-success-and-sustain-it/articleshow/70467958.cms) • [15](https://www.indiatoday.in/amp/magazine/leisure/story/20220725-dhanush-in-choosing-roles-i-look-for-connectivity-and-the-scope-to-deliver-as-a-performer-1976113-2022-07-16) Twenty years after his debut, he reached global prominence playing the assassin Avik San in Netflix's *[The Gray Man](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-gray-man-2022-film)* (2022), directed by the Russo Brothers alongside [Ryan Gosling](https://www.edgepedia.org/ryan-gosling) and Chris Evans.[9](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/dhanush-41-the-early-years-of-a-reluctant-actor-who-turned-into-a-unique-superstar-9480387/lite/) • [12](https://www.sacnilk.com/news/Dhanush_Tracing_the_Remarkable_Journey_of_a_Versatile_Actor_from_Thulluvadho_Ilamai_to_International_Acclaim_and_His__Film_Idli_Kadai) He also crossed into Telugu-language cinema with *Kuberaa* (2025), directed by [Sekhar Kammula](https://www.edgepedia.org/sekhar-kammula).[16](https://cineledger.in/dhanush/)
## Direction and production
Dhanush's directorial debut was *Pa Paandi* (2017), a slice-of-life romance.[3](https://tamilurl.com/filmographies/dhanush-movies/) • [7](https://guides.justwatch.com/in/best-dhanush-movies-where-to-watch) As a producer through his banner Wunderbar Films, he has backed films he describes as outside his acting choices, naming *Kaaka Muttai*, *Visaranai*, and *Amma Kanakku*.[17](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/interviews/2017/Aug/18/actor-writer-producer-director-singerhellip-the-versatile-dhanush-1675.html) *Visaranai* and *Pa Paandi* hold his highest Rotten Tomatoes ratings at 100 percent.[18](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/dhanush)
**Raayan (2024) changed the scale of his work.** His 50th lead role, it was his second directorial venture, written and directed by Dhanush with music by A.R. Rahman, produced by [Kalanithi Maran](https://www.edgepedia.org/kalanithi-maran) under Sun Pictures, and co-starring [S. J. Suryah](https://www.edgepedia.org/s-j-suryah), Selvaraghavan, Sundeep Kishan, and [Kalidas Jayaram](https://www.edgepedia.org/kalidas-jayaram).[8](https://www.sunpictures.in/movies/raayan/) • [19](https://tfapa.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/TAMIL-CINEMA-TRADE-GUIDE_OCT-2025.pdf) At the 2026 National Film Awards, *Raayan* won Best Tamil Film and *Captain Miller* (2024) won the Silver Lotus Award for Best Feature Film Promoting National, Social and Environment Values plus a Special Mention.[5](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1333687/awards/)
## Recent films and box office (2022 to 2026)
The 2020s have mixed critical successes and commercial outcomes. *Thiruchitrambalam* (2022), a romantic comedy-drama directed by Mithran R. Jawahar, earned Dhanush the [Filmfare Award for Best Actor](https://www.edgepedia.org/filmfare-award-for-best-actor) - Critics and a Rotten Tomatoes score of 100 percent.[5](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1333687/awards/) • [2](https://www.sunpictures.in/casts/dhanush/) • [18](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/dhanush) *Karnan* (2021), Mari Selvaraj's anti-caste drama, and *Asuran* (2019), Vetrimaaran's caste drama, stand among his most acclaimed performances; *Asuran* won him his second National Film Award for Best Actor.[7](https://guides.justwatch.com/in/best-dhanush-movies-where-to-watch) • [20](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9477520/awards/)
On the commercial side, *Raayan* is listed as his biggest hit at ₹1.26 billion (₹126 crore).[13](https://www.cinetrace.in/actors/dhanush) *Kuberaa*, a Telugu-Tamil film with Sekhar Kammula, collected about ₹910 million (₹91 crore) net against a ₹1.2 billion (₹120 crore) budget, and *Idli Kadai* (2025), which Dhanush directed and in which he stars as Murugan, reached roughly ₹500 million (₹50 crore).[16](https://cineledger.in/dhanush/) • [21](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1333687/) His upcoming slate includes *Kara* (2026), in which he continues a recurring savior-role arc, and *D55*, with credits under Vels Film International and Wunderbar Films.[22](https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/dhanush-films-asuran-karnan-raayan-kara-cost-of-fighting-the-system-2902246-2026-04-28) • [23](https://tfapa.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/trade_guide_mar_2026.pdf)
## Awards and recognition
IMDb lists 46 wins and 57 nominations across his career.[5](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1333687/awards/) TamilMDb counts four National Film Awards, two as actor and two as producer, alongside 14 SIIMA Awards, nine Vijay Awards, seven [Filmfare Awards South](https://www.edgepedia.org/filmfare-awards-south), five Vikatan Awards, five Edison Awards, and a Filmfare Award.[6](https://www.tamilmdb.com/crew/6212/dhanush) The Indian Express notes he is one of the handful of actors in India to win two National Best Actor awards before turning 40.[9](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/dhanush-41-the-early-years-of-a-reluctant-actor-who-turned-into-a-unique-superstar-9480387/lite/)
Film databases disagree on the size of his filmography, reflecting different inclusion rules: CineTrace lists 63 titles for 2002 to 2026, Indian Film History lists 31 titles, TamilMDb counts 46 films, and IMDb credits 71 acting roles; the count varies with how productions, cameos, and as-yet-unreleased projects are treated.[13](https://www.cinetrace.in/actors/dhanush) • [11](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/actor/dhanush) • [6](https://www.tamilmdb.com/crew/6212/dhanush) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1333687/fullcredits)
## References
1. [Dhanush full credits, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1333687/fullcredits)
2. [Dhanush, Sun Pictures](https://www.sunpictures.in/casts/dhanush/)
3. [Dhanush Movies: Complete Filmography (2002-2026), Tamil URL](https://tamilurl.com/filmographies/dhanush-movies/)
4. [Annual Report 2011-12, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, 58th National Film Awards](https://mib.gov.in/sites/default/files/2024-08/annualreport2011-12-english.pdf)
5. [Dhanush - Awards, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1333687/awards/)
6. [Dhanush, TamilMDb](https://www.tamilmdb.com/crew/6212/dhanush)
7. [30 Best Dhanush Movies And Where To Watch Them, JustWatch](https://guides.justwatch.com/in/best-dhanush-movies-where-to-watch)
8. [Raayan, Sun Pictures](https://www.sunpictures.in/movies/raayan/)
9. [Dhanush @ 41: The early years of a reluctant actor, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/dhanush-41-the-early-years-of-a-reluctant-actor-who-turned-into-a-unique-superstar-9480387/lite/)
10. [Dhanush on being pushed into acting at 16, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/2267314dhanush-a-script-can-create-a-star-out-of-an-actor-no-matter-how-he-looks/83/)
11. [Dhanush Filmography & Biography, Indian Film History](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/actor/dhanush)
12. [Dhanush: Tracing the Remarkable Journey, Sacnilk](https://www.sacnilk.com/news/Dhanush_Tracing_the_Remarkable_Journey_of_a_Versatile_Actor_from_Thulluvadho_Ilamai_to_International_Acclaim_and_His__Film_Idli_Kadai)
13. [Dhanush, CineTrace](https://www.cinetrace.in/actors/dhanush)
14. [Dhanush: In cinema, it's difficult to find success and sustain it, Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/dhanush-in-cinema-its-difficult-to-find-success-and-sustain-it/articleshow/70467958.cms)
15. [Dhanush: In choosing roles, I look for connectivity, India Today](https://www.indiatoday.in/amp/magazine/leisure/story/20220725-dhanush-in-choosing-roles-i-look-for-connectivity-and-the-scope-to-deliver-as-a-performer-1976113-2022-07-16)
16. [Dhanush Movies List with Box Office, Cineledger](https://cineledger.in/dhanush/)
17. [The versatile Dhanush interview, Cinema Express](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/interviews/2017/Aug/18/actor-writer-producer-director-singerhellip-the-versatile-dhanush-1675.html)
18. [Dhanush Movies List, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/dhanush)
19. [Tamil Cinema Trade Guide, October 2025, TFAPA](https://tfapa.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/TAMIL-CINEMA-TRADE-GUIDE_OCT-2025.pdf)
20. [Asuran (2019) - Awards, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9477520/awards/)
21. [Dhanush, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1333687/)
22. [Asuran, Karnan and now Kara, India Today](https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/dhanush-films-asuran-karnan-raayan-kara-cost-of-fighting-the-system-2902246-2026-04-28)
23. [Tamil Films of Leading Actors Expected in 2026, TFAPA Trade Guide, March 2026](https://tfapa.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/trade_guide_mar_2026.pdf)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Film people and crafts › Film actors and performers › Actor filmographies and performer list articles*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license