Venkatesh Prabhu Kasthuri Raja (born on 28 July 1983),[1] better known by his stage name Dhanush (Tamil: தனுஷ்), is an Indian film actor and playback singer. His filmography includes critically acclaimed films like Kadhal Kondein, Pudhupettai and Aadukalam, for which he won the National Film Award for Best Actor[2] and commercially successful films like Thiruda Thirudi, Thiruvilayadal Arambam, Polladhavan, Yaaradi Nee Mohini and Padikathavan. He is the son Kasthuri Raja and the brother of Selvaraghavan, both directors in Tamil cinema.