Dhanush has received two recognitions at the 72nd National Film Awards, with the actor-filmmaker being honoured for two different films. His directorial Raayan won the Best Tamil Film award, while Captain Miller received a Special Mention, giving Dhanush a notable double recognition at this year's awards.
Released in 2024, Raayan marked Dhanush's second directorial venture and featured him in the lead role. The film revolves around a man drawn into a violent conflict while trying to protect his family, with Dhanush handling both the central performance and the direction.
The Best Tamil Film honour recognises the overall achievement of Raayan, including its storytelling, performances and technical execution. For Dhanush, the award is particularly significant as it acknowledges his work behind the camera as the film's director.
Dhanush also received recognition for Captain Miller, which earned a Special Mention at the National Film Awards. Directed by Arun Matheswaran, the period action drama was set against the backdrop of British India and followed the journey of a former soldier. Dhanush played the lead role, bringing a different performance to a film built around action, conflict and its period setting.
With Raayan winning Best Tamil Film and Captain Miller receiving a Special Mention, Dhanush has been recognised through two films that explored very different worlds. The awards also highlight his work in two distinct roles, as both the director of Raayan and the lead actor of Captain Miller.
The double recognition adds another milestone to Dhanush's career, which has seen him move between acting, directing, writing and music across different stages of his career.