Karunakaran (born 28 January 1981) is an Indian actor and comedian who mainly appears in Tamil cinema. He made his breakthrough in the film Soodhu Kavvum (2013). He also appeared in supporting roles in Yaamirukka Bayamey (2014), Jigarthanda (2014) and Indru Netru Naalai (2015).
Career Karunakaran's father is a former RAW agent and he grew up in New Delhi, before moving to Trichy with his parents, where he met short film maker and friend Nalan Kumarasamy. He completed his secondary schooling at Sri Akilandeswari Vidyalaya, Trichy. He initially made a career as chemical engineer, graduating from SASTRA University, and then as an IT professional at Accenture, before Nalan approached him to feature in a short film he was making for the reality television show, Naalaya Iyakkunar. Karunakaran had featured in such short film ventures at school and Nalan had cast him in Nenjuku Neethi, which went on to win the first place award that season. Sundar C gave him brief roles in two of his ventures, while he made his first breakthrough portraying Vijay Sethupathi's friend in Karthik Subbaraj's Pizza (2012), after which he left work and concentrated on a career in films.
Nalan subsequently cast him in his feature film debut Soodhu Kavvum (2013), for which Karunakaran won rave reviews. His appearance in the "Kasu Panam Thuttu" song also was well received and prompted several further offers for the actor. His performance in Yaamirukka Bayamey (2014) was appreciated by critics. The Times of India wrote, "A large part of the credit should go to Karuna, who manages to make Sharath both ambivalent and funny", while Sify wrote that he was "a scream" and The Hindu called it an "exceptional performance". Karunakaran, rose to fame in comical roles he did in such films as Yaamirukka Bayamey and Jigarthanda (2014).
Karunakaran was awarded the Best Comedian Award for his role in the movie Indru Netru Naalai (2015). In 2019, he made his TV début with ‘Asaalta Alaravidum Pullingo’ on Discovery Network's Tamil channel. These movies like Monster (2019) and Maanaadu (2021) which have been successful. After delays, the comedy Panni Kutty, in which Karunakaran starred with Yogi Babu, was finally released in 2022.
Filmography
Films Year Film Role Notes2012 KalakalappuInba Kumar Pizza Raghavan Maalai Pozhudhin Mayakathilaey Devendran 2013 Soodhu Kavvum Arumai Pragasam Nominated, Vijay Award for Best Supporting ActorTheeya Velai Seiyyanum Kumaru Wedding groom Also writer2014 Yaamirukka Bayamey Sharath Nominated, Vijay Award for Best ComedianJigarthanda Oorni Aindhaam Thalaimurai Sidha Vaidhiya Sigamani Paalpaandi Aadama Jaichomada Panneer Yaan Shaji Lingaa Kothandam Kappal Kanagasabhapathi "Kanaga" 2015 Mahabalipuram Kumar Nanbenda Thangadurai Inimey Ippadithan Ganesan Indru Netru Naalai Pulivetti Arumugam Ananda Vikatan Cinema Award for Best ComedianVasuvum Saravananum Onna Padichavanga Gautham Uppu Karuvaadu Chandran 2016 Gethu Kanagu Navarasa Thilagam Alangaram Kanithan Balaji Hello Naan Pei Pesuren Dr. Saravanan Ko 2 Kumaran Iraivi Ramesh Oru Naal Koothu Raghavendran 25th FilmJackson DuraiVeera Iru Mugan PeterThodari Vairam Parandhu Sella Vaa Arun 2017 Enakku Vaaitha Adimaigal Ramesh Adhagappattathu Magajanangalay ThiriJeeva's friend Vivegam Arumai Prakasam aka "APS" Hara Hara Mahadevaki Kumaru 2018 Vidhi Madhi Ultaa Rajamani Nimir Vigadakavi Veera Pachamuthu Iruttu Araiyil Murattu Kuththu Girish Kalyan Semma Botha Aagathey Nandhu Ghajinikanth Karuna NOTA Rocky Kadikara Manithargal Shiva Lakshmi Azhagu Ratsasan Himself Uncredited appearanceSeethakaathi Advocate Silukkuvarupatti Singam Bhaskar 2019 Podhu Nalan Karudhi Poovarasan 50th FilmKalavu Gautham direct-to-video released on ZEE5Monster Ravi Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best ComedianJiivi Mani RK Nagar Cameo appearance2021 Trip Amuthan Teddy Karthik Malaysia to Amnesia Prabhu Tughlaq Durbar Vasu Enemy Babu Jango A. Krishnamoorthy Maanaadu Syed Baasha Sivaranjiniyum Innum Sila Pengalum Chandran 2022 Manmadha Leelai Sasi Payanigal Gavanikkavum Antony Panni Kutty UthravathiMaha Sub-inspector Karuna Kaatteri GajjaJiivi 2 Mani 2023 Vallavanukkum Vallavan Napoleon Soppana Sundari Durai Yaanai Mugathaan Michael Karungaapiyam Pastor David Kasethan Kadavulada MuraliRajni / Aval Peyar Rajni Selvam Arumugam Malayalam / Tamil film 2024 Ayalaan Sugirtharaja Double Tuckerr Moorthy Meiyazhagan Jagadeesh (Jaggu) Aalan Sivaganesan Miss You Bobby Soodhu Kavvum 2 Arumai Pragasam Thiru.Manickam Constable Sargunam 2025 Thandel Manapuram Murali Telugu film Leg Piece Perusu Freeze Box Shop Owner Retro Anthony DNA Divya's therapist Oho Enthan Baby Murali Aaryan News Presenter Jagdish 2026 Vaa Vaathiyaar Govindharaman Mustafa Mustafa Chitti Gatta Kusthi 2 Partha G.D.N Perunkili Photographer Kabilan Meesaya Murukku 2 Venkatesan
Television +YearProgram RoleTV Channel 2019Asaalta Alaravidum Pullingo: Fail Army With KarunakaranHostDiscovery Tamil2022Little Super HeroesKalaignar TV
Web series YearProgram RoleNetworkNotes2020Time Enna Boss BuggyAmazon Prime2022Paper RocketTigerZEE5
Short films Year Title RoleNotes Oru Padam Edukunam Suicidal man 2010 Nadanthathu Yenana Arumaiprakasam Nenjuku Neethi 2011 Zero Kilometer 2012 Sollamaten Debt Trap
References
External links
Karunakaran on Moviebuff