Karunas

Karunas (born as Karunanidhi Sethu Thevar; February 21, 1970) is an Indian actor, comedian, musician and politician in the Tamil film industry. Appearing mostly in supporting roles, he has also played main lead roles in films including Dindigul Sarathy and Ambasamudram Ambani (2008). Apart from acting, Karunas has also been credited in films as a producer, music composer and singer, while he continues to serve as the vice president of the Nadigar Sangam, a trade union for actors, after being elected in October 2015.

Early life Karunas was born on February 21, 1970, in Kuruvikkarambai, a village in Thanjavur, 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 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. 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). He was cast as the comedian and the film was successful, 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), both starring Jeeva in lead role, but the failure of both films has prompted him to stay away from distributing any further ventures. 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). 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, being successful for his performance of a suicidal man in Darling (2015) and as a villager in Komban (2015), which became his hundredth film. In Azhagu Kutti Chellam (2016), Karunas' performance was well received by critics. He has also continued to act in comedy films including Enakku Innoru Per Irukku and Dhilluku Dhuddu. Karunas played character roles in Soorarai Pottru (2020) and Pogumidam Vegu Thooramillai (2024).

Political career He was the leader of Mukkulathor Pulipadai, a Thevar political outfit. He contested from Tiruvadanai 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.

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. The couple have a daughter Diana Karunas and a son, Ken Karunas.

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.

Filmography As an actor Year Film Role Notes 2001 Nandhaa 'Lodukku' Pandi 2002 Pesadha Kannum Pesume Arun 123 Aalavandhaan Baba Sambumani Villain Kodukan Kadhal Azhivathillai Samy April Maadhathil Jackson Album Paal Pandi Jaya Micheal Bala Kutty 2003 Kadhaludan Durai Puthiya Geethai Ganesh Inidhu Inidhu Kadhal Inidhu Aahaa Ethanai Azhagu Shankar Thiruda Thirudi Rockfort Chandru Success Ganesh's friend Kaiyodu Kai Ragasiyamai Suraa Sriganthan Pithamagan Karuvaayan Thirumalai Thirumalai's friend Iyarkai Nandu Anbe Un Vasam JK Indru Vishwanath Sindhamal Sitharamal Saravanan's friend 2004 Ennavo Pudichirukku Peela Magan Pudhukottaiyilirundhu Saravanan Vimal Varnajaalam Logu Swetha Naagu"Black" BabaTelugu film;Dubbed in Tamil as Madhumathi Kuthu Senthil Jana Tappa New Vichu (Ex) Vasool Raja MBBS Kalaialangaram Attagasam Pangu 2005 Devathaiyai Kanden 'Kaduppu' Subramani Arputha Theevu Karuppiah Kadhal Seiya Virumbu Odibaba Ulaganathan Kadhal FM Chili Chicken E Tony Adhu Oru Kana Kaalam 2006 Sudesi Ramesh Mercury Pookkal Karthik's friend Prathi Gnayiru 9 Manimudhal 10.30 Varai Romeo Idhu Kadhal Varum Paruvam Thiruvilaiyaadal Aarambam Tiger Prathaphan Thagappansaamy 2007 Pori Hari's friend Ninaithu Ninaithu Parthen Vedha Arputha Theevu Karuppiah Mudhal Kanave Nee Naan Nila Mokkasamy Maa Madurai Arumugam En Uyirinum Melana Johnny Tholaipesi Puli Varudhu Karuppa Kattradhu Thamizh Yuvaan-Suang Chennai 600028 Himself Guest appearance Polladhavan Auto Kumar 2008 Sadhu Miranda Vellai Vedha Yaaradi Nee Mohini Ganesh Vallamai Tharayo Master Dhanam Ananth's uncle Netru Indru Naalai Thamizh Silambattam Villager Dindigul Sarathy Sarathy Thiruvannamalai Duraisingam Panchamirtham Paandi 2009 Satrumun Kidaitha Thagaval Adada Enna Azhagu Vasan's friend Ayan Dilli Ilampuyal Narayanan Rajathi Raja Krishnamoorthy Maasilamani Arumugam Velu Thamizhagam Constable Vasool Raja 2010 Rettaisuzhi Army member Ambasamudram Ambani Thandapani Pournami Nagam Baana Kaathadi Kumar 365 Kadhal Kadithangal Murugan Enthiran Ravi Uthama Puthiran Janaki 2011 Ilaignan Subair Kasethan Kadavulada Karuna Maharaja Maadasamy 2012 Kazhugu Nandu Aathi Narayana Aslam Muhammed Rafiq Salam Pandi Oliperukki Nilayam Amarkalam Ullam direct-to-television 2013 Chandamama Santhanakrishnan Also producer Ragalaipuram Velu Also producer 2014 Ceylon Stanley 2015 Darling Athisaya Raj Komban Muniyandi Masss Azhagu Lodukku Pandi Pandi Savaale Samaali Karunakaran Puli Sooran Kathirvel Kaakha 2016 Azhagu Kutti Chellam Auto driver Kathakali Karpooram Pugazh Pugazh's brother Jithan 2 Surya's known person Enakku Innoru Per Irukku Finger Babu Dhilluku Dhuddu Mohan Ka Ka Ka Po Thirunaal Mani Wagah Nagappan Kodi Murugan Pazhaya Vannarapettai Achamindri Pattu 2017 Pandigai Rattinam Kumar 2020 Draupadi Guruthevan Soorarai Pottru Alapparai Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Character Artiste (Male)2021 Sangathalaivan Ranganathan 2022 Viruman Balu Aadhaar Pachamuthu Gatta Kusthi Ratnam 2024 Rebel College Professor Pogumidam Vegu Thooramillai Nalinamoorthy Ananda Vikatan Cinema Award for Best Supporting Actor Kanguva Selumaara Sorgavaasal Kattabomman 2025 Madraskaaran Chellapandi Diesel Vetti Sekar 2026 Salliyargal Kara Kasi Maayan Nooru Saami Selvi's brother Gatta Kusthi 2 Ratnam

As a distributor Thagapansamy (2006) Kattradhu Thamizh (2007)

As a lyricist Youth (2026)

Discography As a composer Year Film Songs Score Notes 2009 Rajathi Raja 2010 Ambasamudram Ambani 2011 Kasethan Kadavulada 2016 Pagiri Kadavul Irukaan Kumaru One song "Locality Boys"

As a singer Year Title Song Composer Notes 1987 Aisa Lakadi Mettu Thanunga (album) Folk songs album 2002 Shree "Madurai Jilla" T. S. Muralidharan 2003 Iyarkai "Seetu Kattu" Vidyasagar Uncredited 2004 Kaadhal "Pura Koondu" Joshua Sridhar 2005 Kadhal Seiya Virumbu "Elam Elam" G. Ram 2005 Thunichal "Katikalama" Premji Amaren 2006Thalaimagan"Uppumootai"Paul J.2006Prathi Gnayiru 9 Manimudhal 10.30 Varai"Dhumkara"John Peter 2007 Chennai 600028 "Jalsa" (Remix) Yuvan Shankar Raja Puli Varudhu"Kadhalikka Solludi" Srikanth Deva 2009 Rajathi Raja "Kathirikka" Himself 2011 Kasethan Kadavulada "Kasethan" Himself 2013 Chandhamama "Koyambedu Silk Akka" Srikanth Deva Also lyrics Ceylon "Londoniley" Vishal Chandrashekhar Ragalaipuram "Obamavum Ingethan" Srikanth Deva 2015 Darling "Vandha Mala" G. V. Prakash Kumar 2016 Kadavul Irukaan Kumaru "Locality Boys" himself, Bobo Shashialso lyrics2026 Youth "Alapuzha Sandhayila" himself, Gracy Karunasalso co-lyricist with Ken Karunas, Sibiraj Chakravarthi & Eshwar