Birthday special: 5 best Dhanush films you must watch

The story of Dhanush’s journey to stardom is one of grit and determination. The actor started out small and got films thanks to his director brother Selvaraghavan. But today, he is a well-known name across all film industries and has even bagged his first Hollywood film. He revealed his ambitions to direct and produce his own Hollywood flicks in the future. This incredible success would not have been possible if he did not deliver some brilliant films throughout his career. So, as the actor turns a year older today, here’s a look at 5 best films of the actor…

Dhanush’s breakthrough came with his second film, which was the thriller ‘Kaadhal Kondein’. The film, which was directed by Selvaraghavan was considered really dark for its time as it dealt with the concept of physical and mental abuse of children. Dhanush delivered a gem of a performance as Vinod, a silent, eccentric, bespectacled guy who looks quite harmless. However, he turns out to be a psychopath and he goes to extremes to woo his lady love. With such a bold film so early in his career, it is no wonder Dhanush became such a big success.

This neo noir gangster film is considered a cult classic by many and with good reasons. The film holds back on nothing and reveals all the highs and lows of the life of a gangster. It beautifully showcases how an innocent school boy goes on to become one of the most dreaded gangsters of the city. Dhanush is perfect as the wiry, yet resilient Kokki Kumar and brings his best to the game. All characters play their part perfectly and the fickle nature of the underworld becomes apparent by the end of the film, leaving a strong message for the audience. Thus it makes this movie a must watch!

This 2011 Tamil drama took Dhanush and director Vetrimaaran to new heights. ‘Aadukalam’ deals with a unique theme of rooster fighting that is prevalent in rural parts of TamilNadu. It is the story of Karuppu and his love for the sport as he goes through various highs and lows in his life. Although rooster fighting is the central theme, the movie deals with romance, drama, deceit, politics and a whole plethora of complex emotions making it an amazing film to watch. It is no wonder that the actor won a National Award for this film.

Dhanush ventured into dark territory once again with his film ‘Mayakkam Enna’. This film, which was directed by his brother Selvaraghavan, is about a wildlife photographer named Karthik Swaminathan and his passion that turns him into nothing short of a monster. Although the movie starts as a lighthearted comedy with romance in between, it takes on a dark twist in the latter half. Dhanush shows his villainous side as he becomes an abusive drunkard and tortures his wife physically and mentally. Never before has the actor portrayed such a grey character and he did it in a convincing manner. All these things made ‘Mayakkam Enna’ a critically acclaimed film.

This super hit doesn’t need any introduction. The comedy drama is one of the biggest commercial successes of Dhanush’s career. He plays Raghuvaran, an unemployed civil engineer who is determined to get a job in his core field of interest. He is constantly ridiculed by his father and society and ‘VIP’ is the story of how this underdog finally tastes success with hard work and patience. While the issues in the movie were dealt with in a comical manner, it still struck a chord with the youngsters in the state who faced a similar plight after finishing their college. ‘VIP’ is definitely the proverbial feather in Dhanush’s cap.