Karunas
Karunas
Vice president of Tamilan Artistes' Association
Assumed office
10 October 2015
Member of Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly from Thiruvadanai constituency
In office
19 May 2016  2 May 2021
President of Mukkulathor Pulipadai
In office
2015–2019
Personal details
Born
Karunanidhi Sethu

(1970-02-21) February 21, 1970
Kuruvikkarambai, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India
Political partyMukkulathor Pulipadai
SpouseGrace Karunas
Children2 (including Ken Karunas)
OccupationActor, comedian, musician, singer, politician

Karunas (born as Karunanidhi Sethu; February 21, 1970) is an Indian actor, politician and comedian in the Tamil film industry. Appearing mostly in supporting roles, he has also played main lead roles in films including Dindigul Sarathy (2008) and Ambasamudram Ambani (2008). Apart from acting, Karunas has also been credited in films as a producer, music composer and a singer, while he continues to serve as the Vice-President of the Nadigar Sangam, after being elected in October 2015.[1]

Early life

Karunas was born on February 21, 1970 in Kuruvikkarambai, a village in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India. He did his schooling at Palangudi Bharathi School and later studied at Nandanam Arts, Presidency College. Karunas began his career as pop singer and dancer, working extensively on Tamil folk music.[2][3] He then gradually appeared in films as a comedian.

Film career

Karunas began work as a gaana singer aged 12, earning the moniker "Gaana" Karunas, and made his television debut through Yuhi Sethu's Naiyaandi Darbar show in the late 1990s as a musician.[4] Director Bala heard one of his songs and subsequently signed Karunas on for an acting role in his second directorial venture, the drama film Nandha (2001).[5] He was cast as the comedian and his role as 'Lodukku' it was successful , prompting him to accept further film offers.[6] He subsequently went on to appear in notable films including Baba (2002), Pithamagan (2003), Vasool Raja MBBS (2004) and Polladhavan (2007) in supporting comedy roles. Karunas has also distributed two films, Pori (2007) and Kattradhu Thamizh (2007), but the failure of both films has prompted him to stay away from distributing any further ventures.[6]

Karunas first appeared in the lead role in the comedy drama, Dindigul Sarathy (2008), portraying an insecure man with an inferiority complex. With heavy promotions by Sun Pictures, the film became a surprise success at the box office and prompted Karunas to appear in further lead roles in the comedy films Ambasamudram Ambani (2010), Chandhamama (2013), Ragalaipuram (2013) and Lodukku Pandi (2015).[7] In between the films, he also essayed serious performances, and was briefly involved in the making of Thanga Meengal (2013) before it underwent a change of cast, while he was successful for his role in Santosh Sivan's war drama film, Ceylon (2014).[8] His films as the lead hero, gradually had lower key promotions than the previous ones, and in 2015, Karunas announced he would not appear in any further lead roles.[9] He subsequently made a return to starring supporting roles thereafter, being successful for his performance of a suicidal man in Darling (2015) and as a villager in Komban (2015), which became his hundredth film.[10] In Azhagu Kutti Chellam (2016), Karunas has given one of his career best performances .[11] He subsequently changed his mind about not appearing in leading roles, and began work on the sequel to Dindigul Sarathy in September 2016.[12] In 2016, he has also continued to act in comedy films including Jithan 2, Enakku Innoru Per Irukku, Dhilluku Dhuddu and Ka Ka Ka Po. Karunas plays the responsible uncle, more than a comedian in Soorarai Pottru (2020) which has been a commercial success.[13]

Political career

He was the leader of Mukkulathor Pulipadai, a Thevar political outfit. He contested for the Tamil Nadu State Legislative Assembly from Thiruvadanai in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election 2016 with AIADMK's Two Leaves (Irratai Ilai) as his election symbol. He won it with a margin of over 10,000 votes.

On 25 February 2017, an unidentified person threw footwear at Karunas' car while out to garland a statue of freedom fighter U. Muthuramalingam Thevar. It is believed that the incident could be connected to his support of AIADMK leader V. K. Sasikala.[14]

Personal life

Karunas is married to Grace, a playback singer in the Tamil film industry. The pair had met when Karunas was the guest judge at an inter-collegiate singing competition, and after being impressed, Karunas asked her to sing in his personal music album.[15][16] The couple have a daughter and a son named Ken Karunas who is a child artist in the movie industry, who was born in 2001, making his debut in Nedunchaalai.

Karunas's younger brother, Nagas, was set to making his acting debut through C. Ranganathan's Vantharu Jaicharu, but the film eventually did not release.[17]

Partial filmography

As an actor

Year Film Role Notes
2001Nandha'Lodukku' Pandi
2002Pesadha Kannum PesumeArun
123Aalavandhaan
BabaSambumani
VillainKodukan
Kadhal AzhivathillaiSamy
April MaadhathilJackson
AlbumPaal Pandi
JayaMicheal
BalaKutty
2003KadhaludanDurai
Puthiya GeethaiGanesh
Inidhu Inidhu Kadhal Inidhu
Aahaa Ethanai AzhaguShankar
Thiruda ThirudiRockfort Chandru
SuccessGanesh's Friend
Kaiyodu Kai
RagasiyamaiSuraa Sriganthan
PithamaganKaruvaayan
ThirumalaiThirumalai's Friend
IyarkaiNandu
Anbe Un VasamJK
IndruVishwanath
Sindhamal Sitharamal
2004Ennavo PudichirukkuPeela Magan
Pudhukottaiyilirundhu SaravananVimal
VarnajaalamLogu
Madhumathi"Black" Baba
KuththuGuru's friend
JanaTappa
NewVichu (Ex)
Vasool Raja MBBSKalaialangaram
AttagasamPangu
2005Devathaiyai Kanden'Kaduppu' Subramani
Arputha TheevuKaruppiah
Kadhal Seiya VirumbuOdibaba Ulaganathan
Kadhal FMChili Chicken
ETony
Kasthuri Maan
Adhu Oru Kana Kaalam
2006SudesiRamesh
Mercury Pookkal
Prathi Gnayiru 9 Manimudhal 10.30 VaraiRomeo
Idhu Kadhal Varum Paruvam25th Film
Thiruvilaiyaadal AarambamTiger Prathaphan
Thagappansaamy
2007PoriHari's friend
Ninaithu Ninaithu Parthen
Vedha
Arputha TheevuKaruppiah
Mudhal Kanave
Nee Naan NilaMokkasamy50th Film
Maa MaduraiArumugam
En Uyirinum MelanaJohnny
Tholaipesi
Puli VarudhuKaruppa
Kattradhu ThamizhYuvaan-Suang
Chennai 600028HimselfGuest Appearance
PolladhavanAuto Kumar
2008Sadhu MirandaVellai
Vedha
Yaaradi Nee MohiniGanesh
Vallamai TharayoMaster
DhanamAnanth's uncle
Netru Indru Naalai
SilambattamVillager
Dindigul SarathySarathy
ThiruvannamalaiDuraisingam
PanchamirthamPandi
2009Satrumun Kidaitha Thagaval
Adada Enna AzhaguVasan's friend
AyanDilli
Ilampuyal
Rajathi RajaKrishnamoorthy
Maasilamani
ArumugamVelu
2010RettaisuzhiMilitary army
Ambasamudram AmbaniThandapani75th Film
Pournami Naagam
Baana KaathadiKumar
365 Kadhal KadithangalMurugan
EnthiranRavi
Uthama PuthiranJanaki
2011IlaignanSubair
Kasethan KadavuladaKaruna
MaharajaMaadasamy
2012KazhuguNandu
Aathi Narayana
Pandi Oliperukki NilayamAmarkalam
Ullamdirect-to-television
2013ChandamamaSanthanakrishnanalso producer
RagalaipuramVelualso producer
2014CeylonStanley
2015DarlingAthisaya Raj
KombanMuniyandi
MasssAzhagu
Lodukku PandiPandi100th Film
Savaale SamaaliKarunakaran
PuliSooran
Kathirvel Kaakha
2016Azhagu Kutti ChellamAuto driver
KathakaliKarpooram
PugazhPugazh's brother
Jithan 2Surya's known person
Enakku Innoru Per IrukkuFinger Babu
Dhilluku DhudduMohan
Ka Ka Ka Po
ThirunaalMani
WagahNagappan
KodiMurugan
Pazhaya Vannarapettai
AchamindriPattu
2017PandigaiRattinam Kumar
2020DraupadiGuruthevan
Soorarai PottruAlapparai
2021SangathalaivanRanganathan
2022VirumanBalu
AadhaarPachamuthu
Gatta KusthiRatnam

As a music director

Year Film Notes
2009Rajathi Raja
2010Ambasamudram Ambani
2011Kasethan Kadavulada
2016Pagirisongs only
Kadavul Irukaan KumaruComposed one song "Locality Boys"

As a singer

Year Film Song Composer Notes
2002Shree"Madurai Jilla"T.S Muralidharan
2004Kaadhal"Pura Koondu"Joshua Sridhar
2005Kadhal Seiya Virumbu"Elam Elam"G. Ram
2005Thunichal"Katikalama"Premji Amaren
2006Thalaimagan"Uppumootai"Paul J.
2007Chennai 600028"Jalsa" (Remix)Yuvan Shankar Raja
2009Rajathi Raja"Kathirikka"Himself
2011Kasethan Kadavulada"Kasethan"Himself
2013Chandhamama"Koyambedu Silk Akka"Srikanth DevaAlso lyrics
Ceylon"Londoniley"Vishal Chandrashekhar
Ragalaipuram"Obamavum Ingethan"Srikanth Deva
2015Darling"Vandha Mala"G. V. Prakash Kumar
2016Kadavul Irukaan Kumaru"Locality Boys"himself, Bobo Shashialso lyrics

References

  1. "Comedy proves a cakewalk". The Hindu. 15 February 2008. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  2. "I cannot eat, sleep and breathe movies: Karunas". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 9 November 2013. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  3. "Karunas opens up". Newindianexpress.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  4. Prathibha Parameswaran (4 June 2005). "Laughing all the way". The Hindu. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  5. "கலைத்துறைக்கு வராவிட்டால் ரவுடியாகி இருப்பேன்! - கருணாஸ்" (PDF). Kalki (in Tamil). 9 December 2001. pp. 28–30. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  6. 1 2 "It's Karunas' call". The Hindu. 15 February 2008. Archived from the original on 11 October 2020. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  7. "Karunas - Tamil Movie Actor Interview - Karunas - Ambasamudiram Ambani - Navneet Kaur - Dindugul Sarathy - Behindwoods.com". Behindwoods.com. Archived from the original on 19 July 2018. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  8. Kamath, Sudhish (16 November 2013). "A special point of view". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 27 March 2014. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  9. "Karunas' last movie comes to screen soon - Tamil Diplomat". Tamildiplomat.com. 29 January 2015. Archived from the original on 19 July 2018. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  10. "Karunas makes century". Hey Tamil Cinema. Archived from the original on 19 July 2018. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  11. "Azhagu Kutti Chellam review. Azhagu Kutti Chellam Tamil movie review, story, rating".
  12. "This popularity is something I wasn't prepared for: Actor Karunas". New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 13 September 2016. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  13. "Soorarai Pottru review".
  14. "Footwear hurled at AIADMK MLA Karunas' car". Indianexpress.com. 25 February 2017. Archived from the original on 19 July 2018. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  15. Ashok Kumar, S. R. (5 September 2008). "My First Break -- Grace Karunas". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 13 November 2017. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  16. "Tamil movies : Karunas has multifaceted talents". Behindwoods.com. Archived from the original on 19 July 2018. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  17. "New launches - Tamil films". 14 August 2003. Archived from the original on 14 August 2003.
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