Karunas

Indian actor
The basics

Quick Facts

IntroIndian actor
PlacesIndia
isMusician Actor Comedian Composer
Work fieldFilm, TV, Stage & Radio Humor Music
Gender
Male
Birth21 February 1970, Pudukkottai
Age54 years
The details

Biography

Karunas (born 21 February 1970 as Karunanidhi Sethu) is an Indian actor, politician and comedian in the Tamil film industry. Appearing mostly in supporting roles, he has also played 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.

Early life

Karunas was born as Karunanidhi in Tirunelveli 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. 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. 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). He was cast as the comedian and his role as 'Lodukku' Pandi won him critical acclaim, prompting him to accept further film offers. 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.

Karunas first appeared in the lead role in the comedy drama, Dindigul Sarathy (2008), portraying an insecure man with an inferior 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). In between the films, he also trialled serious performances, and was briefly involved in the making of Thanga Meengal (2013) before it underwent a change of cast, while he won acclaim for his role in Santosh Sivan's war drama film, Ceylon (2014). 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. He subsequently made a return to starring supporting roles thereafter, winning critical acclaim for his performance of a suicidal man in Darling (2015) and as a villager in Komban (2015), which became his hundredth film. He subsequently changed his mind about not appearing in leading roles, and began work on the sequel to Dindigul Sarathy in September 2016.

Political life

He is the leader of "Mukkulathor PuliPadai", a state political party. He contested for the Tamil Nadu State Legislative Assembly from Thiruvadanai assembly in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election 2016 with AIADMK's Twin Leaf (Irratai Ilai) as his election symbol. He won it with a margin of over 10,000 votes.

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.

Filmography

As an actor

YearFilmRoleNotes
2001Nandha'Lodukku' Pandi
2002Pesadha Kannum PesumeArun
123Aalavandhaan
BabaSambumani
VillainKodukan
Kadhal AzhivathillaiSamy
April MaadhathilJackson
Album
Jaya
Bala
2003KadhaludanDurai
Puthiya GeethaiGanesh
Inidhu Inidhu Kadhal Inidhu
Aahaa Ethanai Azhagu
Thiruda ThirudiRockfort Chandru
Success
Kaiyodu Kai
RagasiyamaiSuraa Sriganthan
PithamaganKaruvaayan
ThirumalaiThirumalai's Friend
IyarkaiNandu
Anbe Un Vasam
Indru
Sinthamal Sitharamal
2004Ennavo PudichirukkuPeela Magan
Pudhukottaiyilirundhu SaravananVimal
VarnajaalamLogu
KuththuGuru's Friend
Jana
NewVichu (Ex)
Vasool Raja MBBSAmit
AttagasamPangu
2005Devathaiyai Kanden'Kaduppu' Subramani
Kadhal Seiya Virumbu
Kadhal FMChili Chicken
ETony
Kasthuri Maan
Adhu Oru Kana Kaalam
2006Sudesi
Mercury Pookkal
Prathi Gnayiru 9.30 to 10.00Romeo
Idhu Kadhal Varum Paruvam
Thiruvilaiyaadal AarambamTiger Prathaphan
Thagappansaamy
2007Pori
Ninaithu Ninaithu Parthen
Vedha
Arputha Theevu
Madurai Veeran
Muthal Kanave
Nee Naan Nila
Maa MaduraiArumugam
En Uyirinum Melana
Tholaipesi
Puli VarudhuKarupa
Kattradhu ThamizhYuvaan-Suang
PolladhavanAuto Kumar
Rameswaram
2008Sadhu MirandaVellai
Yaaradi Nee MohiniGanesh
Vallamai Tharayo
Dhanam
Netru Indru Naalai
Silambattam
Dindigul SarathySarathy
ThiruvannamalaiDuraisingam
PanchamirthamPandi
2009Satrumun Kidaitha Thagaval
Adada Enna Azhagu
AyanDilli
IlampuyalK.S.Thurai
Rajathi RajaKrishnamurthy
Maasilamani
ArumugamVelu
2010RettaisuzhiMilitary army
Ambasamudram AmbaniThandapani
Pournami Naagam
Baana KaathadiKumar
365 Kadhal Kadithangal
EnthiranRavi
Uthama PuthiranJanaki
2011IlaignanSubair
Kasethan KadavuladaKaruna
Maharaja
2012KazhuguNandu
Aathi Narayana
Pandi Oliperukki Nilayam
Ullamunreleased; direct-to-television
2013ChandamamaSanthanakrishnanalso producer
RagalaipuramVelualso producer
2014CeylonStanley
2015DarlingAthisaya Raj
KombanMuniyandi
MasssAzhagu
Lodukku PandiPandi
Savaale SamaaliKarunakaran
Maya
PuliSooran
Kathirvel Kaaka
2016Azhagu Kutti Chellam
KathakaliKarpooram
PugazhPugazh's brother
Jithan 2
Enakku Innoru Per IrukkuFinger Babu
Dhilluku DhudduMohan
Ka Ka Ka Po
ThirunaalMani
WagahNagappan
KodiMurugan
Pazhaya Vannarapettai
AchamindriPattu

As a music director

YearFilmNotes
2009Rajathi Raja
2010Ambasamudram Ambani
2011Kasethan Kadavulada
2016Kadavul Irukaan KumaruComposed one song "Locality Boys"

As a singer

YearFilmSongComposerNotes
2002Shree"Madurai Jilla"T.S Muralidharan
2007Chennai 600028"Jalsa" (Remix)Yuvan Shankar Raja
2009Rajathi Raja"Kathirikka"Himself
2011Kasethan Kadavulada"Kasethan"Himself
2013Chandhamama"Koyambedu Silk Akka"Srikanth DevaAlso lyricist
Ceylon"Londoniley"Vishal Chandrashekhar
Ragalaipuram"Obamavum Ingethan"Srikanth Deva
2015Darling"Vandha Mala"G. V. Prakash Kumar

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