Apr. 09, 2021|India|152 Min.|PG
Genre: Action;Adventure;Drama;South;Indian
Description: Karnan (2021) is a film that tells the story of a brave village youth who fights for the rights of his community. The villagers, belonging to a marginalized group, have faced oppression for decades due to the dominance of higher caste groups, government officials, and the police. The film uses symbolic elements to creatively depict their struggles, injustices, and eventual uprising against caste discrimination and police brutality led by the protagonist and the entire village.
In November 2018, actor Dhanush announced his collaboration with director Mari Selvaraj for this project, praising Selvaraj’s debut film, Pariyerum Perumal, for its impactful storytelling. The production was supported by Kalaipuli S. Thanu under V Creations, marking his second consecutive film with Dhanush after Asuran (2019). Although initially delayed due to Dhanush’s prior commitments, the project, tentatively titled Karnan, gained momentum in August 2019.
By September 2019, it was reported that filming would begin in December 2019 after Dhanush completed shooting for Karthik Subbaraj’s Jagame Thandhiram. During a meeting in London, Dhanush approved the final script, and pre-production started on September 29, 2019, with composer Santhosh Narayanan joining the team. The official title, Karnan, was announced on January 6, 2020. Inspired by the 1995 Kodiyankulam violence, the film’s shooting commenced in Tirunelveli, where the team recreated a miniature village model for authenticity.
Principal photography began on January 6, 2020, following a simple launch ceremony. The film highlights the struggles of marginalized communities and their fight against systemic oppression.
Cast director: Mari Selvaraj
Cast actor: Dhanush, Rajisha Vijayan, Lal, Natarajan Subramaniam, Yogi Babu, N. Azhagamperumal, Lakshmi Priyaa, Gouri G Kishan
Original name: கர்ணன்