The Vetrimaaran directorial is based on the Kilvenmani Massacre of 1968. It's the highest-rated movie of Dhanush on IMDb (8.5/10). The film also bagged two National Film Awards.
Karnan
This had Dhanush playing a rebel who fights for his people's rights. Helmed by Mari Selvaraj, the film was based on the 1995 Kodiyankulam caste violence incident.
Polladhavan
Vetrimaaran's film had Dhanush playing an energetic youth and the unexpected journeys that his stolen bike takes him on. Divya Spandana played the leading lady.
3
This marked the directorial debut of Dhanush's ex-wife Aishwarya Rajinikanth and Shruti Haasan's debut in acting. It had Dhanush playing a man fighting bipolar disorder.
Maari
Directed by Balaji Mohan, this movie starred Dhanush and Kajal Aggarwal in the lead. It's an action comedy that had Dhanush playing a small-time gang leader who is carefree and yet ruthless.