Dhanush wins two National Awards, but sons Yatra and Linga steal his thunder

Actor-director Dhanush attended the 72nd National Film Awards with his sons, Yatra and Linga, after winning two honours. Their appearance together and his tribute to fans became the standout note of the evening.

In Short

• Dhanush won two awards at 72nd National Film Awards
• Sons Yatra and Linga stole the show at the ceremony
• Raayan won Best Tamil Film, his first as director

Dhanush may have walked away from the 72nd National Film Awards with two honours, but it was his sons Yatra and Linga who stole the spotlight — and the actor-director couldn't have been happier about it. Sharing pictures from the ceremony with his sons on his official Instagram page, Dhanush joked that his “thunder” had been stolen, adding that he did not mind it one bit.

“When your thunder is stolen and you don’t mind it... And as I always say, with my heart full of gratitude.. this is for my fans .. the pillars of my strength,” Dhanush wrote on Instagram on Tuesday.

Yatra and Linga posed alongside their father at the prestigious ceremony, both dressed sharply in formal suits. Dhanush, meanwhile, opted for a more relaxed look in a simple shirt, veshti (dhoti) and sandals. The actor-director attended the awards ceremony in Ekta Nagar, Gujarat, on Tuesday, where President Droupadi Murmu presented the honours.

Here are the photos:

Dhanush had plenty to celebrate. Raayan, which he directed and headlined, was named Best Tamil Film, marking his first National Film Award as a director. His performance in Captain Miller also earned him a Special Mention at the ceremony.

For Dhanush, the recognition adds another chapter to an already decorated National Award journey. He won his first Best Actor honour for Aadukalam at the 58th National Film Awards in 2011, followed by another Best Actor win for Asuran at the 67th National Film Awards in 2021.

He has also been recognised as a producer, with Kaaka Muttai winning Best Children's Film at the 62nd National Film Awards and Visaaranai receiving Best Feature Film in Tamil at the 63rd National Film Awards.

With his latest honours for Raayan and Captain Miller, Dhanush has now added both directing and acting recognition to his latest National Awards haul.

- Ends