Karunakaran
Acting
Born September 21, 1981, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Karunakaran is a Tamilfilm actor, who has appeared in character roles. He made his breakthrough in Soodhu Kavvum (2013) portraying the role of Arumai Pragasam, before playing roles in Jigarthanda and Yaamirukka Bayamey. He initially made a career as chemical engineer, graduating from SASTRA University, and then as an IT professional at Accenture, before director Nalan Kumarasamy (his friend) 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, 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 was appreciated by critics.
Filmography
- 2026G.D.N — Perunkili
- 2026Gatta Kusthi 2 — Partha
- 2026Meesaya Murukku 2 — Venkatesh
- 2026Mustafa Mustafa — Chitti
- 2026Photographer — Kabilan
- 2026Vaa Vaathiyaar — Govindharaman
- 2025Adhiran
- 2025DNA
- 2025Leg Piece
- 2025Oho Enthan Baby — Murali
- 2025Perusu — Ice Box Owner
- 2025Retro — Anthony
- 2025Thandel — Manapuram Murali
- 2024Ayalaan — Sugirtharaja
- 2024Double Tuckerr — Moorthy
- 2024Meiyazhagan — Jagadeesh
- 2024Miss You — Bobby
- 2024Soodhu Kavvum 2: Nadum Naatu Makkalum... — G Arumai Pragasam
- 2023Karungaapiyam — Pastor David
- 2023Kasethan Kadavulada — Murali
- 2023Rajni — Selvam Arumugam
- 2023Soppana Sundari — Durai
- 2023Vallavanukkum Vallavan
- 2023Yaanai Mugathaan — Michael
- 2022Jiivi 2 — Mani
- 2022Kaatteri — Gajaa
- 2022Maha
- 2022Manmatha Leelai
- 2022Panni Kutty — Uthrabathi
- Paper Rocket — Tiger
- 2022Payanigal Gavanikkavum — Antony
- 2021Enemy — Babu
- 2021Jango — Krishnamoorthy
- 2021Kutty Story — (voice)
- 2021Maanaadu — Syed Baasha
- 2021Malaysia to Amnesia — Prabhu
- 2021Sivaranjiniyum Innum Sila Pengalum — Chandran
- 2021Teddy — Karthik
- 2021Trip
- 2021Tughlaq Durbar — Vasu
- Time Enna Boss!? — Buggy
- 2019Jiivi — Mani
- 2019Kalavu
- 2019Monster
- 2019Ninu Veedani Needanu Nene — Tamil Version
- 2019Podhu Nalan Karudhi
- 2019R. K. Nagar
- 2018Ghajinikanth — Karuna
- 2018Iruttu Araiyil Murattu Kuthu — Girish Kalyan
- 2018Kadikara Manithargal — Shiva
- 2018Lakshmi — Azhagu, Krishna's Cafe Worker
- 2018Nimir — Vigadakavi
- 2018Nota
- 2018Seethakathi — Advocate
- 2018Semma Botha Aagatha — Nandhu
- 2018Silukkuvarupatti Singam — Bhaskar
- 2018Veera — Pachamuthu
- 2018Vidhi Mathi Ultaa
- 2017Adhagappattathu Magajanangalay
- 2017Enakku Vaaitha Adimaigal — Ramesh
- 2017Hara Hara Mahadevaki — Kumar
- 2017Thiri — Jeeva's Friend
- 2017Vivegam — Arumai Prakasam "APS"
- 2016Gethu — Kanagu
- 2016Hello Naan Pei Pesuren — Dr. Saravanan
- 2016Iraivi — Ramesh
- 2016Iru Mugan — Peter
- 2016Jackson Durai — Veera
- 2016Kanithan — Balaji
- 2016Kavalai Vendam
- 2016Ko 2 — Kumaran
- 2016Navarasa Thilagam — Alangaram
- 2016Oru Naal Koothu — Raghavendran
- 2016Parandhu Sella Vaa
- 2016Thodari — Vairam
- 2015Indru Netru Naalai — Pulivetti Arumugam
- 2015Mahabalipuram — Kumar
- 2015Nannbenda — Thangadurai
- 2015Orange Mittai — Kailasam's Son
- 2015Uppu Karuvadu — Chandran
- 2015Vasuvum Saravananum Onna Padichavanga — Gautham
- 2014Aadama Jaichomada — Panneer
- 2014Aindhaam Thalaimurai Sidha Vaidhiya Sigamani — Paalpandi
- 2014Jigarthanda — Oorni
- 2014Kappal
- 2014Lingaa — Kothandam
- 2014Yaamirukka Bayamey — Sharath
- 2014Yaan — Shaji
- 2013Soodhu Kavvum — Arumai Pragasam
- 2013Theeya Velai Seiyyanum Kumaru — Special Appearance, Screenplay
- 2012Kalakalappu — Kumar
- 2012Maalai Pozhudhin Mayakathilaey — Sampath
- 2012Pizza — Raghavan
- Criminal — Tirupathi
- Grahanam
- Indru Netru Naalai 2
- Jeyikkira Kuthira
- Kutrachaattu
- Mohan Das
- Red and Follow
- Untitled Prem Kumar - Fahadh Faasil Film
- Yellow Yellow Dirty Fellow
Appearances as themselves (3)
- 2018Ratsasan — Himself (Guest Appearance)
- 2010Nadanthathu yenanau — Self
- 2010Nenjuku Neethi — Self