Dhanush

Venkatesh Prabhu, known professionally as Dhanush (born 28 July 1983), is an Indian actor, producer, lyricist, and playback singer who works primarily in Tamil cinema. He is one of the most versatile and critically acclaimed actors in South Indian cinema, known for his ability to portray both mass-entertainment roles and intense, realistic characters. Born in Chennai, Dhanush is the son-in-law of legendary Tamil actor and filmmaker Kamal Haasan (through his marriage to Aishwarya Rajinikanth, daughter of superstar Rajinikanth). He made his debut with "Thulluvadho Ilamai" (2002) and quickly established himself as a talented performer. Dhanush's international breakthrough came with the song "Why This Kolaveri Di" (2011), which became the first Indian song to cross 100 million views on YouTube. The viral hit brought him global recognition and opened doors for Indian music worldwide. His most acclaimed performances include "Aadukalam" (2011, which won him the National Film Award for Best Actor), "Velaiilla Pattadhari" series (2014, 2017), "Asuran" (2019, another National Film Award winner), "Karnan" (2021), and "Thiruchitrambalam" (2022). His filmography spans commercial entertainers to gritty, socially conscious dramas. Dhanush also co-founded the production house Wunderbar Films and has produced several acclaimed Tamil films. He is also a playback singer and lyricist, having composed music for several of his films.