Karunas
{{short description|Indian actor and comedian}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Karunas
| image = Karunas.jpg
| imagesize =
| caption = Karunas
| birth_name = Karunanidhi Sethu
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1970|2|21}}
| birth_place = Kuruvikkarambai, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India
| office1 = Member of Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly from Thiruvadanai constituency
| term_start1 = 19 May 2016
| term_end1 = 2 May 2021
| predecessor1 =
| successor1 =
| office2 = President of Mukkulathor Pulipadai
| term_start2 = 2015
| term_end2 = 2019
| predecessor2 =
| successor2 =
| spouse = Grace Karunas
| children = 2 (including Ken Karunas)
| occupation = Actor, Comedian, Composer, Playback singer, Politician
| office = Vice president of Tamilan Artistes' Association
| termstart = 10 October 2015
| party = Mukkulathor Pulipadai
}}
Karunas (born as Karunanidhi Sethu; February 21, 1970) is an Indian actor, comedian, composer, playback singer and politician 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.{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/Comedy-proves-a-cakewalk/article15397614.ece|title=Comedy proves a cakewalk|date=15 February 2008|access-date=19 July 2018|newspaper=The Hindu}}
Early life
Karunas was born on February 21, 1970, in Kuruvikkarambai, a village in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India.{{cite web|website=Cinesouth|url=http://www.cinesouth.com/specials/interviews/karunas.shtml|title=An interview with Karunas|access-date=23 July 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050207210513/http://www.cinesouth.com/specials/interviews/karunas.shtml|archive-date=7 February 2005}} 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.{{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-05-14/news-interviews/31700461_1_karunas-movie-star-dindigul-sarathy|title=I cannot eat, sleep and breathe movies: Karunas|newspaper=The Times of India|access-date=19 July 2018|archive-date=9 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109171305/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-05-14/news-interviews/31700461_1_karunas-movie-star-dindigul-sarathy|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/article519445.ece?service=print|title=Karunas opens up|website=Newindianexpress.com|access-date=19 July 2018|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304094336/http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/article519445.ece?service=print|url-status=dead}} He then gradually appeared in films as a comedian.
Film career
Karunas began work as a folk 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/mp/2005/06/04/stories/2005060400670400.htm|title=Laughing all the way|author=Prathibha Parameswaran|date=4 June 2005|access-date=22 February 2019|work=The Hindu}}{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Director Bala heard one of his songs and subsequently signed Karunas on for an acting role in his second directorial venture, the drama film Nandhaa (2001).{{cite magazine |date=9 December 2001 |title=கலைத்துறைக்கு வராவிட்டால் ரவுடியாகி இருப்பேன்! - கருணாஸ் |url=https://archive.org/download/kalki2001-12-09/kalki2001-12-09.pdf |magazine=Kalki |language=ta |pages=28–30 |access-date=15 August 2023}} He was cast as the comedian and his role as 'Lodukku' it was successful , prompting him to accept further film offers.{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-cinemaplus/its-karunas-call/article3022536.ece|title=It's Karunas' call|date=15 February 2008|access-date=19 July 2018|newspaper=The Hindu|archive-date=11 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201011155957/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-cinemaplus/its-karunas-call/article3022536.ece|url-status=live}} 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 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).{{cite web|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/new-videos/videos-q1-09/actor-actress-interview/karunas.html|title=Karunas - Tamil Movie Actor Interview - Karunas - Ambasamudiram Ambani - Navneet Kaur - Dindugul Sarathy - Behindwoods.com|website=Behindwoods.com|access-date=19 July 2018|archive-date=19 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719203449/http://www.behindwoods.com/new-videos/videos-q1-09/actor-actress-interview/karunas.html|url-status=live}} 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).{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/a-special-point-of-view/article5358064.ece|title=A special point of view|first=Sudhish|last=Kamath|date=16 November 2013|access-date=19 July 2018|newspaper=The Hindu|archive-date=27 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327034214/http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/a-special-point-of-view/article5358064.ece|url-status=live}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://tamildiplomat.com/karunass-last-movie-comes-to-screen-soon/|title=Karunas' last movie comes to screen soon - Tamil Diplomat|date=29 January 2015|website=Tamildiplomat.com|access-date=19 July 2018|archive-date=19 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719233208/http://tamildiplomat.com/karunass-last-movie-comes-to-screen-soon/|url-status=live}} 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.{{Cite web |url=http://heytamilcinema.com/karunas-makes-century/ |title=Karunas makes century |work=Hey Tamil Cinema |access-date=18 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719233203/http://heytamilcinema.com/karunas-makes-century/ |archive-date=19 July 2018 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }} In Azhagu Kutti Chellam (2016), Karunas has given one of his career best performances .{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiaglitz.com/azhagu-kutti-chellam-tamil-movie-review-18322.html|title = Azhagu Kutti Chellam review. Azhagu Kutti Chellam Tamil movie review, story, rating}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/This-popularity-is-something-I-wasnt-prepared-for-Actor-Karunas/2016/09/13/article3620004.ece |title=This popularity is something I wasn't prepared for: Actor Karunas |work=New Indian Express |access-date=12 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160913153312/http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/This-popularity-is-something-I-wasnt-prepared-for-Actor-Karunas/2016/09/13/article3620004.ece |archive-date=13 September 2016 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/review/soorarai-pottru-review/20201114.htm|title=Soorarai Pottru review}} In 2024, Karunas shines in a role that showcases his acting prowess in Pogumidam Vegu Thooramillai.{{Cite web|url=https://chennaivision.com/pogumidam-vegu-thooramillai-movie-review/|title=“Pogumidam Vegu Thooramillai” Movie Review}}
Political career
He was the leader of Mukkulathor Pulipadai, a Thevar political outfit. He contested 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.
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.{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/footwear-hurled-at-aiadmk-mla-karunas-car/|title=Footwear hurled at AIADMK MLA Karunas' car|date=25 February 2017|website=Indianexpress.com|access-date=19 July 2018|archive-date=19 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719233704/https://indianexpress.com/article/india/footwear-hurled-at-aiadmk-mla-karunas-car/|url-status=live}}
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.{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-cinemaplus/my-first-break-grace-karunas/article3023313.ece |title=My First Break -- Grace Karunas |last=Ashok Kumar |first=S. R. |work=The Hindu |date=5 September 2008 |access-date=30 June 2015 |archive-date=13 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171113113837/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-cinemaplus/my-first-break-grace-karunas/article3023313.ece |url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/features/News/News35/25-10-05e/tamil-movies-news-karunas.html|title=Tamil movies : Karunas has multifaceted talents|website=Behindwoods.com|access-date=19 July 2018|archive-date=19 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719233215/http://www.behindwoods.com/features/News/News35/25-10-05e/tamil-movies-news-karunas.html|url-status=live}} 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 Ragalaipuram.
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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.chennaionline.com/entertainment/filmplus/tmovies.asp|title=New launches - Tamil films|date=14 August 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030814215543/http://www.chennaionline.com/entertainment/filmplus/tmovies.asp|archive-date=14 August 2003}}
Filmography
=As an actor=
=As a composer=
| class="wikitable" | ||||
| Year
! Film ! Songs ! Score ! Notes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Rajathi Raja | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |
| 2010 | Ambasamudram Ambani | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |
| 2011 | Kasethan Kadavulada | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | |
| rowspan="2"|2016 | Pagiri | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |
| Kadavul Irukaan Kumaru | {{yes}} | {{no}} | one song "Locality Boys" |
=As a singer=
=As a distributor=
- Thagapansamy (2006)
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|id=1420619|name=Karunas}}
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Category:Indian male film actors
Category:Indian male comedians
Category:Tamil film score composers
Category:Actors from Thanjavur district
Category:Male actors from Tamil Nadu