Actor Dhanush addresses criticism that has followed the 71st National Film Awards, where he received a Special Mention for his performance in “Captain Miller” and won Best Tamil Film (as director) for “Raayan.” Responding at an event, Dhanush acknowledges that other Tamil films released that year may have been stronger than “Raayan.” He says he respects fans who argued that “Meiyazhagan” and “Maharaja” were more deserving, adding that audience support for those films should be recognized. Dhanush also references past projects in his career that, despite fan appreciation, did not lead to a National Award, mentioning films such as “Aadukalam,” “Pudhupettai,” “3,” “Mayakkam Enna,” “Vada Chennai,” “Karnan,” “Maryan,” and “Raanjhanaa,” with cheers from the audience during his remarks. He urges critics to consider the broader significance of the awards for Tamil cinema and to celebrate his wins rather than focusing solely on debate. Social media users were divided after the awards announcement, with many comparing his wins to performances and films they felt should have been honored.