Happy Birthday Dhanush: 6 films that make him Kollywood’s young superstar

Padikkadavan: Released in 2009, this film created quite a stir in the industry, courtesy its sensitive depiction of the struggles faced by an uneducated man. The movie also received a thunderous response at the box office.

Kaadhal Kondein: This film twirled around the disturbed life of a young man, who was subjected to physical and mental abuse as a child. The film received substantial critical acclaim, thanks to its dark, yet believable storyline.

3: This film made headlines after a catchy song Why This Kolaveri Di went viral on social media. Anirudh Ravichander composed the music. The film also featured Shruti Haasan and Prabhu in pivotal roles. And, the movie was directed by Dhanush's wife, Aishwarya.

Ranjhanaa: After finding firm footing in southern cinema, Dhanush made his Bollywood debut by playing the lead role in Anand Rai's Ranjhanaa. The film twirled around a Varanasi-based Hindu, who falls in love with a Muslim girl. The music composed by Academy award winner AR Rahman, Ranjhanaa proved to be a big winner at the box office.

Polladhavan: This film was quite similar to the Italian classic Bicycle Thieves. The film proved to be a runaway hit at the box office, helping Dhanush bag an IFTA award. Boasting of some gripping music from GV Prakash, Polladhavan is perhaps best recognised for its engaging storyline.

Vellaiyilla Pattadhari (VIP): Keeping in mind that the movie was one of the much needed releases in Dhanush's career, Vellaiyilla Pattadhari (VIP) became the talk of the town because of his intense and enjoyable performance. This movie also helped Dhanush bag a Filmfare award. The film was released in 2014 and was later dubbed into Telugu as Raghuvaran B Tech.