A. Karunanidhi


A. Karunanidhi was an Indian actor and comedian who featured mainly in Tamil-language films.

Career

He was active in the field from 1948 till 1978. Though he was a comedian, the roles he played in some of the films were so imperative to the story. A case in point is his role in the award-winning film Veerapandiya Kattabomman. He featured as "Sundaralingam", a servant in Kattabomman's court. The role was developed into a spy and he played it brilliantly. In some of the films, he will not talk much, but his body language itself will make the audience laugh, as in Missiamma. He has also appeared in women's attire in some films. The turning and twisting of his body was well appreciated even by women. In Adhey Kangal, he did the role of a Malayalee cook and spoke Malayalee Tamil, making the audience laugh to their hilt. Apart from acting, at times he gave ideas for comedy scenes in films.
T. P. Muthulakshmi was his co-star in many films.
While he was acting in films, he ran a non-vegetarian hotel called Maamiya Hotel at Thiyagaraya Nagar in Chennai.
He died in 1981, affected by diabetes.

Partial filmography

YearFilmRole
1948Adhithan Kanavu
1950Digambara SamiyarManickam
1950Ponmudi
1950Manthiri KumariBhoopalam
1951DevakiGovindhan
1951SarvadhikariVairagyam
1952Kalyani
1952Valaiyapathi
1954En Magal
1954Mangalyam
1954Padmini
1955Asai Anna Arumai ThambiKaruppu
1955Gulebagavali
1955Guna SundariEldest son-in-law
1955Kalyanam Seydhukko
1955Kathanayaki
1955Maheswari
1955MissiammaPandiya
1955Mullaivanam
1955Nalla Thangai
1955Pennarasi
1955Town BusMannaru
1956Kannin Manigal
1956Naan Petra SelvamArivumathi
1956Paasavalai
1957Miss Mary Karunanidhi
1957AmbikapathiVengayam
1957AaravalliNaaman
1957Manamagan Thevai
1957MahadheviMuthupulavan
1958Boologa RambaiMahodharan
1958Kadan Vaangi KalyaanamDrama artiste
1958Petra Maganai Vitra AnnaiDuttan
1958Sarangadhara
1958Thedi Vandha Selvam
1959Alli Petra Pillai
1959Engal KuladeviChanakiyan
1959Kan ThiranthathuChadaiyan
1959Pennkulathin Ponvilakku
1959Veerapandiya KattabommanSundaralingam
1960Aadavantha DeivamKambodhi
1960Adutha Veettu Penn
1960DeivapiraviNair
1960Ellorum Innaattu Mannar
1960Pudhiya Padhai
1961Kappalottiya ThamizhanUnnarsamy
1961Palum Pazhamum
1961Panam Panthiyile
1961ThirudatheMakku Maamaa
1962Indira En SelvamCompounder Kailasam
1962Padithal Mattum Podhumaservant of Rao Bahadur
1962Thendral Veesum
1963Kalyaniyin KanavanPolice Constable
1963Konjum KumariMannaru
1963Paar Magaley PaarManickam
1963Thulasi Maadam
1964Chitrangi
1964Muradan Muthu
1965Thiruvilaiyadal
1966Madras to PondicherryNaidu
1966Mahakavi Kalidas
1966Mani MagudamUlagappan, Vanchi's brother
1966Sadhu MirandalPassenger
1967Aalayam
1967Athey Kangal
1967Penn Endral Penn
1968Lakshmi Kalyanam
1968Thillana MohanambalOttu player
1968Thirumal PerumaiNattamai
1969Ponnu Mappillai Thazhamuthu
1970Paadhukaappu
1970Enga MamaSudden Break Shanmugam
1971Aathi Parasakthi
1971BabuSiluvai
1971Deivam Pesuma
1978Thyagam
1980Anbukku Naan AdimaiHead Constable