Karuna Kumar
Birth placeAndhra Pradesh, India
OccupationFilm director · screenwriter
Years active2020–present

Karuna Kumar is an Indian film director and screenwriter who works primarily in Telugu cinema.[1] He is best known for directing the 2020 film Palasa 1978.

Career

Karuna Kumar's debut film Palasa 1978 was released in March 2020 opening to positive reviews from the critics. The film revolves around the incidents related to caste discrimination and untouchability.[2] It was featured in year-end best films' charts including Film Companion and The Times of India.[3] His next directorial Metro Kathalu was released on streaming service Aha. Made as an anthology, The Times of India criticized Kumar's work and felt that the film "doesn’t have a fresh theme".[4] He then directed Sridevi Soda Center featuring Sudheer Babu and Anandhi in lead roles. Writing for The Hindu, Sangeetha Devi Dundoo in her review, wrote that "With Sridevi Soda Center, Karuna Kumar takes a mainstream approach given the presence of actor Sudheer Babu and tries to keep the narrative gritty while discussing issues of honour".[5] Others critics opined that the film could do much better in terms of screenplay.[6][7]

Before the release of Sridevi Soda Center, in July 2021, The Hans India reported that Kumar has eight upcoming films.[8] In November 2021, he walked out of the Telugu remake of the Malayalam film, Nayattu, over creative differences.[9]

Filmography

As director and writer

List of films
YearTitle
2020Palasa 1978
Metro Kathalu
2021Sridevi Soda Center
2022Kalapuram
2024Matka
2026Honey

As actor

YearTitleRole
2020Uma Maheswara Ugra RoopasyaKaruna
2025Katha KamamishuSridhar

Awards and nominations

List of awards and nominations received
YearAwardCategoryWorkResultRef.
2021South Indian International Movie AwardsBest Debut Director – TeluguPalasa 1978[10]
2021Santosham Film AwardsBest Debut Director[11]

References

  1. ^ Bureau, ABP News (2021-08-27). "Sridevi Soda Center Maker Karuna Kumar Will Only Cast Telugu Actors In His Films, Here Is Why". news.abplive.com. Retrieved 2022-01-05.
  2. ^ "From Palasa 1978 to Orey Bujjiga, here're 5 highly anticipated Telugu movies set to release in March". The Times of India. 2020-03-02. Retrieved 2021-01-08.
  3. ^ "Best Telugu Movies of 2020 | Top Rated Telugu Films of 2020 | Top 30 Best Telugu Movies of 2020 | Etimes". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 2022-01-05.
  4. ^ "Metro Kathalu Review: An incomplete anthology that doesn't offer what it promises", retrieved 2022-01-05
  5. ^ Dundoo, Sangeetha Devi (2021-08-27). "'Sridevi Soda Center' movie review: Succumbing to mainstream masala" (in en-IN). The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2022-01-05.
  6. ^ Pathi, Thadhagath (27 August 2021). "Sridevi Soda Center Movie Review: A powerful story with a gut-wrenching ending". The Times of India. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  7. ^ "Sridevi Soda Center Movie Review: Predictable screenplay kills the game". Cinema Express. 2021-08-27.
  8. ^ Vyas (2021-07-20). "Karuna Kumar has 8 projects in his pipeline!". www.thehansindia.com. Retrieved 2022-01-05.
  9. ^ "Karuna Kumar quits Nayattu Telugu remake?". Cinema Express. Retrieved 2022-01-05.
  10. ^ "Manju Warrier, Suriya, others win at SIIMA Awards: Full list of winners". The News Minute. 2021-09-21.
  11. ^ Naresh. "Suman TV - South Indian Film Awards: సంతోషం - సుమన్ టివి సౌత్ ఇండియన్ ఫిలిం అవార్డ్స్ ప్రమోషన్స్ కి సూపర్ రెస్పాన్స్ - Suman TV". Archived from the original on 14 November 2021. Retrieved 2021-11-14.