A. Karunakaran
{{Short description|Indian film director}}
{{for|the Indian cricketer|A. Karunakaran (cricketer)}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name = A. Karunakaran
| image = A. Karunakaran in 2023.jpg
| birth_place = Devakottai, Tamil Nadu, India
| yearsactive = 1996–present
| occupation = Director, writer, screenwriter.
| children = 2
}}
A. Karunakaran (born 25 December 1971) is a Telugu film director known for Tholi Prema (1998), Happy (2006), Ullasamga Utsahamga (2008) and Darling (2010).{{Cite web|url=http://www.idlebrain.com/celeb/interview/interview_karunakaran.html|title=Interview with Karunakaran|work=Idlebrain|last=Jeevi|date=12 July 2001}}
Career
Karunakaran began his career as a clap director for Kadhal Desam (1996) after Sasi introduced him to Kathir.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/tale-of-triumph/article3363977.ece|title=Tale of triumph|work=The Hindu|last=Manigandan|first=K.R.|date=28 April 2012}} He worked as an assistant to Bhagyaraj and Shankar before making his directorial debut with Tholi Prema (1998). He conceived the script while in Madras and cast Pawan Kalyan after seeing him in a magazine. Tholi Prema was a box office success. His second film Yuvakudu was Bhumika Chawla's first film. The film was unsuccessful. His next film Vasu (2002) was not very successful at the box office, but garnered a cult following over the years.{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/vaasu-completes-19-years-venkateshs-fans-reminisce-the-musical-masterpiece/articleshow/82008562.cms|title="Vaasu" completes 19 Years: Venkatesh's fans reminisce the musical masterpiece|work=The Times of India|date=10 April 2021}} Karunakaran collaborated with Pawan Kalyan for Balu ABCDEFG (2005), but the film was a failure unlike Tholi Prema.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/2003/may/17pawan.htm|title=Johnny sinks, but Pawan Kalyan remains afloat|last=Vijayalaxmi|date=15 May 2003|work=Rediff}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.sify.com/movies/baalu-abcdefg-review-telugu-pclvGpbjbcija.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161014063839/http://www.sify.com/movies/baalu-abcdefg-review-telugu-pclvGpbjbcija.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 October 2016|title=Baalu ABCDEFG|date=10 January 2005|website=Sify}} The following year, Happy (2006), based on the Tamil film Azhagiya Theeye (2004) released and was a box office success.{{Cite web|date=2006-02-28|title=Bunny boy is now his own man - Kannada News|url=https://www.indiaglitz.com/bunny-boy-is-now-his-own-man-kannada-news-20709.html|access-date=2021-05-23|website=IndiaGlitz.com}} Karunakaran garnered acclaim for Ullasamga Utsahamga (2008) starring newcomer Yasho Sagar.[http://www.rediff.com/movies/2008/jul/25ssuu.htm Ullasanga Utsahanga is a good watch] Darling (2010) released to positive reviews.{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/telugu/movie-reviews/Darling/movie-review/5853020.cms|title=Darling Review|work=Times of india|access-date=24 April 2010}} He then directed a bilingual titled Endhukante Premanta in Telugu and Yen Endral Kadhal Enben in Tamil.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/shot-cuts-amybarbie/article3320566.ece|title=New kid on the block|last=Manigandan|first=K.R.|newspaper=The Hindu |date=16 April 2012}} The Telugu version released to negative reviews while the Tamil version was never released.{{cite web|url=http://www.idlebrain.com/movie/archive/mr-endukantepremanta.html|title=Endukante Premanta Alternate review|publisher=idlebrain.com|access-date=20 June 2012}} Chinnadana Nee Kosam (2014) and Tej I Love You (2018) released to mixed reviews.{{Cite web|url=https://www.123telugu.com/reviews/chinnadana-nee-kosam-telugu-movie-review.html|title=Review : Chinnadana Nee Kosam- Routine but Entertaining|work=123Telugu|date=26 December 2014 }}{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movie-reviews/tej-i-love-you/movie-review/64881142.cms|newspaper=The Times of India|title=Tej I Love You Movie Review {2/5}: Dull and predictable|accessdate=6 July 2018|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180706161135/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movie-reviews/tej-i-love-you/movie-review/64881142.cms|archivedate=6 July 2018|df=dmy-all}}
Filmography
| class="wikitable sortable" | ||
| Year | Film
! Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Tholi Prema | Cameo appearance National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu |
| 2000 | Yuvakudu | |
| 2002 | Vasu | Cameo appearance |
| 2005 | Balu ABCDEFG | |
| 2006 | Happy | |
| 2008 | Ullasamga Utsahamga | Nandi Award for Best Screenplay Writer{{Cite web|url=http://www.idlebrain.com/news/2000march20/nandiawards2008.html|title=Nandi awards 2008 announced - Telugu cinema news|website=www.idlebrain.com|access-date=2018-12-15}} |
| 2010 | Darling | |
| 2012 | Endhukante Premanta | Simultaneously shot in Tamil as Yen Endral Kadhal Enben |
| 2014 | Chinnadana Nee Kosam | |
| 2018 | Tej I Love You |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{A. Karunakaran}}
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