Venkatesh Prabhu Kasthuri Raja, known professionally as Dhanush, is an Indian actor, producer, director, lyricist and playback singer who works mainly in Tamil cinema. One of the most recognizable stars of contemporary South Indian cinema, his accolades include 4 National Film Awards (two as actor and two as producer), 14 SIIMA Awards, 9 Vijay Awards, 7 Filmfare Awards South, 5 Vikatan Awards, 5 Edison Awards and a Filmfare Award. After initially gaining recognition as a versatile character actor in films such as Kadhal Konden and Pudhupettai, Dhanush came to further prominence as a popular leading man in Polladhavan and Yaaradi Nee Mohini, both of which were critically acclaimed and commercially successful. His role as a rooster fight jockey in Aadukalam won him the National Film Award for Best Actor and the Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil. He saw continued critical and commercial success with hit films such as Mayakkam Enna, Velaiilla Pattadhari, Vadachennai, Asuran, Karnan and Thiruchitrambalam. Vadachennai emerged as the highest-grossing A-rated Tamil film of all time, while Thiruchitrambalam entered the 100 Crore Club within a month of its release. Dhanush also gained recognition in the Bollywood film industry through his performance as an obsessive one-sided lover in the film Raanjhanaa, which won him the Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut in addition to a nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actor. He is also well known as a playback singer and lyricist, often contributing to the soundtracks of his own films. In 2011, his song "Why This Kolaveri Di" from the romantic psychological thriller film Moonu became the first Indian music video to cross 100 million views on YouTube.
