Karu Pazhaniappan

Karu Pazhaniappan is an Indian film director.

He hails from Karaikudi. His parents are Chinna Karuppaiya and Thirumathi Naagammai. Karu Pazhaniappan is the eldest among their 3 children.

Books appealed to Palaniappan right from childhood. His father Chinna Karuppiah, a trader is an ardent reader. He showed interest in reading classics of popular writers like Kannadasan, Jayakanthan, and Ashokamithran. Following the saying ‘Like father like son’ Palaniappan inherited this ‘love of reading’ from his father right from childhood.

His passion for reading books spread its wings to learning languages, writing, acting and elocution. His innate style of starting midway through a debate and expressing his thoughts with eloquence, charismatically grabbing the attention of the audience and keeping them spellbound, winning their applause and admiration...presented him with countless trophies, certificates and accolades.

After his schooling in Madurai Seventh day Adventist, he studied English Literature in the renowned American College, Madurai (under grad) and mastered in Literature in Madurai Thiyagaraja College. His intense pursuit of Tamil literature secured him the covetable student training course in Vikatan Group of Magazines.

His sustained reading and movie-watching with zest and zeal created an affiliation to cinema within Palaniappan, thus inspiring his first toddler steps into Kollywood in 1994. Though he is acclaimed as director Parthiban's protégé, Palaniappan worked under two other directors. With Mr. Parthiban he worked in Pullakuttikaaran (Parent) and House full. His grey cells contributed to Director Dharani's stories that didn't get transformed into films in the sandwiched time frame between his Edhirum pudhirum and Dhil. He worked under director Ezhil in Thullatha Manamum Thullum, Pennin Manathai Thottu and Poovellam Un Vasam. Palaniappan is married to Pia, and has two children, Iniya (Daughter) and Dhaya(Son).

Karu. Pazhaniappan made his debut Tamil film Parthiban Kanavu a Srikanth – Sneha Starrer. The film become one of the biggest hits of the year.

In 2005, he began work on a film with Dhanush and Gopika titled Ashokamithran, but the film ranproduction troubles and was subsequently shelved. He later began work on that film in 2012 with a new crew and Arulnithi in the lead role, however after two months of shooting, the film was again cancelled. The director and actor tried to revive the project in late 2013, but were again unsuccessful. Likewise another project, a family drama Pandiya Vamsam starring Ameer and Rajkiran, was called off soon after production started.

His second film Sivappathigaram with Vishal fared well at the box office. His PirivOm SanthippOm got major attention of the family audience. His next film was Manthirappunnagai in which he debuted as hero, His second film with Srikanth called Sathurangam was finished in 2006 which remained unreleased for a long time and at last released in 2011.

In 2016, Karu Pazhaniappan spent time on pre-production for a film titled Gramophone featuring Madhavan and Rajkiran in the lead roles. Despite working on it for a year, the film failed to materialise owing to Madhavan's busy schedule. In September 2017, he announced his next film would be a political thriller film titled Pugazhenthi Enum Naan featuring Arulnithi and bindhu madhavi in the lead role.

• Best Director Award

Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Director for Parthiban Kanavu– 2003

• Best Story Writer Award

Tamil Nadu State Film AwardSadhurangam – 2011