The Blackboard Scene to VIP Monologue: 15 Cool Dhanush Moments

In Tamil cinema, each hero has their own kind of stardom and filmography that define their popularity and following. If Rajinikanth is known for his machismo and style, Kamal Haasan is known for his versatility and experimental wonders in cinema. But most of our stars, including Vijay and Ajith, have tasted the pinnacle of success with their larger-than-life characters and mass moments. Maybe that is where Dhanush stands apart. While he has had his share of mass commercial films like Maari (2015), most of his successful films have been those where he plays a modest boy next door, with struggles his fans can relate to. Perhaps that’s what makes his heroism special; there is a kind of an un-mass-y mass vibe to it. 

When we begin to speak about the actor-director-producer, there are certain films, scenes and memories that instantly flash in our minds. As Dhanush turns 40 tomorrow, we look back at such iconic moments from his two-decade-long career in the film industry. 

The First Shot

The first scene in Thulluvadho Ilamai (2002, his debut film) is special for many reasons. After the opening credits, which feature the words “Arimugam Dhanush”, we start hearing his voice even before we are introduced to him. But the shot deserves a mention in this list not just because it marks Dhanush's first appearence on screen, but it is also remains the only instance of the actor donning a combat uniform. At first glance, you might not recognise him. With the military uniform, a moustache style that Dhanush probably hasn’t repeated, and sunglasses, the younger version of him looks very different. It is only when Dhanush removes the glasses, you get to see a familiar face and eyes that brim with innocence. 

The Thug-life Moment in Kadhal Kondaen

The iconic blackboard scene in Dhanush’s sophomore film Kadhal Kondaen is the quintessential example of the actor’s pattern of mass moments. An orphan, introverted Vinod (Dhanush) is scared by the sudden change in his surroundings and culture when he joins college. As his professors and fellow students take a dig at his shabby clothing, a bewildered Vinod remains aloof.

One day, when the professor finds him taking a nap during the lecture, he humiliates and challenges him to finish the difficult math problem on the blackboard. Most of us, like the students, might have disliked him initially. But in Selvaraghavan’s signature moment, the director surprises us and also creates a sense of empathy as Vinod solves the problem in no time and goes back to sleep (imagine the ‘Thug Life music’ in the background). This moment when Vinod gives it back to the professor and his fellow students who mocked him also serves as a fitting reply to all those who looked down on the actor during his early days. 

The World-Famous Flop Song

‘Why this Kolaveri Di’ is one of the most problematic songs which also sowed the seeds for the many infamous ‘love failure’ numbers that followed. But it is also the song that took Dhanush and Tamil language (or Tanglish) to the world stage. Its peppy tune and catchy lyrics garnered fans of different generations across the globe. Written in under 20 minutes, the soup song (aka flop song) became popular and has 409 million views on YouTube as of today. 

While Dhanush has told that it is a silly song, its impact was widespread. Of the different consequences, one of the better results is how Dhanush set the Kollywood trend for using Tanglish (Tamil + English) or our text language in Tamil songs. (Sample these lines from the song: “Kai la glass u, only English, Hand la glass u”). He has followed the same style in his other works like ‘What a Karavaad’ from Velaiyilla Pattathari (2014); the style also earned him the moniker “Poetu Dhanush”.

Karthik's win in Mayakkam Enna

The road is not easy for Karthik. Passion, love and hope can only do so much to uplift his spirits when everything seems to be bleak. The biggest adversary in the life of Karthik, an aspiring wildlife photographer, is his idol, Madhesh Krishnasamy. Madhesh exploits Karthik not once but twice in the film by stealing his photographs and consequentially, the recognition it would have awarded him otherwise. This breaks Karthik, literally and figuratively. His mental health goes for a toss; his relationship with his wife, Yamini, becomes strained. After enduring several pains, Karthik finally wins. More than Karthik's win, it is his confrontation with Madhesh--who has been nothing but frustratingly cold and callous to our innocent man's struggle and ambition--that stands out in this film and even in Dhanush's filmography. 

For the pain Madhesh inflicted on Karthik, we want our man to give it back. The film makes us loathe Madhesh with all our hearts. So when an embarrassed Madhesh tries to avoid meeting our hero after he wins a prestigious award in the film's final ending scene, we are cheering for Karthik. It's an ultimate mass, revenge moment but the treatment is anything but that. Karthik stares at Madhesh in a close-up shot. The sight of Madhesh might evoke either disgust or ridicule in Karthik, who simply smiles and says, "Thanks," and leaves. This culmination is the most unconventional, subtle yet satisfying mass moment in Dhanush's entire filmography.

“Joker ippo Hero aanen” by Poetu Dhanush

Be it as an actor, producer or writer, relatability has always been the stamp of Dhanush. Interestingly, while songs from his films are loaded with his writings, some of his best lyrics can also be found in the works of other actors. If you ever feel low and turn to music, you should definitely tune into ‘Boomi Enna Suthudhe’ from Ethir Neechal. There is always a sense of localness, easy vocabulary and a conversational natural that lyricist Dhanush embodies in his poetic lines. “Vaazhka mella mella okay aanadhey” or “Joker ippo hero aanen” are words that are going to stay with you long after you have finished listening to the song. While his forte is probably the thara local numbers or soup songs, his finesse in other genres is equally evident in the melody ‘Ilamai Thirumbuthey’ from Rajinikanth’s Petta where he pens about finding love in old age and how it makes you feel youthful once again. 

Pa Pandi: Dhanush as a Director

Dhanush’s first film as a director comes from that fuzzy, happy place Pixar movies come from. A delightful dramedy about childhood sweethearts reuniting after decades, the film also showed Dhanush’s hold over the craft as a strong filmmaker. Lovely touches of his directorial style appear in the flashback portions when a young Pandi tries to catch one last glimpse of his lover. He waits behind a wall as she says her final goodbyes to her family. But like Pandi, we too never get to see her for that final time. This incompleteness builds her up in our minds and it contributes to how happy we feel (along with Pandi) when he gets to see her after many years.

Mini Monologues in VIP, Thanga Magan and Thiruchitrambalam

If we ever make a list of Dhanush-isms, his mini-monologues will lead the chart. It all started with Vellai Illa Pathadhaari, where he sincerely rants about his struggles from going to tuition to clearing arrears as he speaks about the difficulty in landing a job to the villain but delivers it like a punch dialogue to threaten him. This rib-tickling, part-comedy part-mass sequence, where he speaks for close to three minutes without pausing to breathe, resonated with the audience. Building on this, Dhanush went on to use the same method in Thanga Magan (2015), again while threatening a villain and later in last year’s Thiruchitrambalam in which he uses the pattern to rant about the struggles a youngster has to undergo to woo his lady love.

Backing Talents as a Producer

When you look at the works of Dhanush, there is probably an evident distinction between what we could call the “Dhanush genres”. While one set of projects carries a serious tone, with a story that addresses a social issue, his other projects have a certain light-heartedness that doesn’t take itself too seriously. If he chooses the latter as a lyricist, he mostly sticks to the former as a producer. From backing Sivakarthikeyan in his breakout film EthirNeechal (2013) and onboarding Anirudh Ravichander to compose music in 3 (2012) to producing Kaaka Muttai (2015) and Visaranai (2015) (for which he won two National Awards), his production house Wunderbar Films has not only been able to contribute to some fine storytelling in Tamil cinema but also nurture young talents. 

When Dhanush Broke His Own Record With ‘Rowdy Baby’

When the music video of the song ‘Rowdy Baby’ featuring Dhanush and Sai Pallavi from Maari 2 was released in 2019, it became a viral hit that it led to Dhanush breaking his own records. For seven years, Dhanush and Anirudh held the record for the most viewed Tamil song on YouTube for ‘Why This Kolaveri Di’. And the dance number from Maari 2 surpassed the views just 36 days after its release. 

Incidentally, Dhanush, who sang the song along with Dhee, had also penned the lyrics. The Yuvan Shankar Raja musical only got better as people started to mimic the dance moves on reels. With Prabhu Deva’s dance choreography and excellent performances from the lead pair, it soon crossed 1 billion views. The only Tamil song to have achieved this feat, the song, which is still quite popular, is marching towards the 1.5 billion mark. 

The Killer Scene in Maryan 

Dhanush got a killer mass moment in what became Maryan’s first teaser but the scene that works even better, even a decade after the film’s release is a phone call between Maryan and Panimalar. In a brief exchange between two extremely talented actors, you feel the pain in every breath as they transform into tiny two lovers, separated by a whole ocean and a desert in between. This scene is the reason why we believe Panimalar can telepathically communicate with Maryan even when he’s stuck in the desert. 

"Sexy Tamil friend" in The Gray Man

Dhanush played a Tamil mercenary, Avik San, in The Gray Man. He had a very small but effective role and an engaging action sequence in his English-language debut. Even though his character is also known as “Lone Wolf”, he is famously addressed as the “Sexy Tamil Friend” by Hollywood star Chris Evans in the film. While the dialogue itself piqued the interest of the audience, what made it even more memorable was a comment made by Dhanush. During the film’s promotions, when the actor was asked what is the one piece of advice he’d give his younger self, he said, “I’ll tell him, ‘Do not fret over the body-shaming trolls because one day a Hollywood hero would call you a “sexy Tamil friend’.

'Maarajayya' From Sir/Vaathi - Tamil Hero Meets Telugu Mass

While the heroic moment in Mayakkam Enna was extremely soft, this scene from Sir (Vaathi in Tamil) is anything but subtle. The film's most heroic moment comes up in his darkest hour. Dhanush's Bala sir is beaten up by evil forces and is forced to leave the village where he is posted as a lecturer. He is physically and morally wounded. As the entire village stands still and mute, indifferent to Bala's plight, his students come to his rescue. It's an incredibly dramatic moment that works despite the over-the-top nature because of the sheer emotion running through it. It's also the only scene in a verbose film that communicates its themes visually--equating the teacher with a God as his students, his devotees, partake in a procession, standing by his side.

Pazham Forgives His Dad in Thiruchitrambalam

In Mithran Jawahar’s Thiruchitrambalam, there lies one of the most heartwarming depictions of friendships — the one that Pazham and Shoba share. But nestled inside the film is yet another everyday relationship that’s put under a microscope: the fraying bond between Pazham and his father (Prakash Raj). Pazham despises his dad and his father, him, after a personal tragedy rocks their lives — at least this is what the film has us believe up until its second act. Every commercial film hero has a coming-of-age moment, but Dhanush’s such moment unfolds with a heartbreaking realisation in Thiruchitrambalam. When Pazham’s dad slips off his bed after recently becoming paralysed, Pazham is forced to intervene. There is this brilliant moment where Prakash Raj is calling for help and Dhanush stays still, his legs almost frozen. His face conveys his mind’s tug of war between the gushing love for his father and a simmering resentment, as he struggles to physically take a step forward. Seconds of contemplation later, he sweeps his anger aside and rushes to his father’s side, where a weeping father asks for his son’s forgiveness. With his back to Prakash Raj’s side, Dhanush lets out a tear, and pride is shattered even without a single dramatic declaration of forgiveness. 

Karnan Unleashes War

Karnan recurrently takes up arms and urges the people of Podiyankulam to fight for themselves throughout Mari Selvaraj’s Karnan. But his ultimate transformation to the warrior of his times happens when his village is invaded by the police and he is unwittingly walking away towards a better future. With a sword in one hand and the horse’s halter on the other, he rides back to his village seething with anger. But when he steps inside the village, the anger melts, making way for shame and gloom, for his best friend (Lal)’s burnt remains are found on the ground. Everything comes to a standstill and his gaze is fixed on his friend. He can hear sobbing voices beseeching him to act, but he doesn’t. He revels in memories and is brought back to reality when he hears Thatha yell out his name. Karnan’s grief isn’t his weakness but his strength, we realise, as Dhanush wields his sword one last time to save his village. 

The Potent Dialogue About Education in Asuran

Dhanush has a knack for selling pain. He does it effortlessly. By the time we arrive at the final scene of Asuran, Sivasaami has endured too many sorrows in the process of saving his son, Chidambaram, from the oppressive forces. As he bids adieu to his son, moments before he is set to turn himself in and serve time in prison for his crimes, the brooding father only has a few wise words to guide his son in the long road ahead. "If we own farmlands, they'll grab them. If we have money, they'll snatch it. But if we have education, they can never take it away from us." Moments after this, the father just looks at his son for one last time, as he enters the courtroom. The smile on Dhanush's face speaks volumes: The agony he experienced in his life, the love he has for his son, although he might not have ever expressed it in the film, a relief that his family's problems are put to rest, a hope that his son will lead a peaceful life... It truly was a performance deserving of all accolades.