For an evening that was meant to celebrate Dhanush's work across acting and filmmaking, the actor-director found himself happy to let someone else take centre stage. The National Film Awards ceremony in Gujarat marked another significant chapter in his career, but the family photographs he shared afterwards turned the spotlight towards his sons.
Dhanush attended the 72nd National Film Awards in Ekta Nagar with Yatra and Linga, with the two dressed in formal suits for the occasion. Dhanush, in contrast, opted for a more understated traditional look, wearing a white shirt, veshti and sandals. The family pictures quickly became a talking point online.
Sharing the photographs on Instagram, Dhanush himself acknowledged the attention his sons received, writing, “When your thunder is stolen and you don’t mind it...” He went on to dedicate his honours to his fans, calling them “the pillars of my strength”.
There was plenty for Dhanush to celebrate at the ceremony. His directorial Raayan, which also featured him in the lead, was named Best Tamil Film, marking his first National Film Award recognition as a director. His performance in Arun Matheswaran's Captain Miller also received a Special Mention, giving him two honours at this year's ceremony.
The latest recognition adds to Dhanush's long association with the National Film Awards. He previously won Best Actor for Aadukalam in 2011 and Asuran in 2021. He has also received National Award recognition as a producer, with Kaaka Muttai winning Best Children's Film and Visaaranai being named Best Feature Film in Tamil.
For Raayan, the honour marks another milestone for Dhanush as a filmmaker. The film, which marked his return to direction after Pa Paandi, is a North Chennai-set action drama that stars Dhanush alongside Dushara Vijayan, SJ Suryah, Sundeep Kishan, Kalidas Jayaram and Selvaraghavan.
Captain Miller, meanwhile, was also recognised at the ceremony, winning the award for Best Feature Film Promoting National, Social and Environmental Values, while Dhanush received the Special Mention for his performance. Director Arun Matheswaran said the recognition made the effort behind the film worthwhile and congratulated Dhanush for the work he put into the project.
