# A. Karunanidhi

A. Karunanidhi ( Tamil : கருணாநிதி) was an Indian actor and comedian who featured mainly in Tamil-language films. 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 (1967 film), 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

| Year | Film | Role |
| 1948 | Adhithan Kanavu | |
| 1950 | Digambara Samiyar | Manickam |
| 1950 | Ponmudi | |
| 1950 | Manthiri Kumari | Bhoopalam |
| 1951 | Devaki | Govindhan |
| 1951 | Sarvadhikari | Vairagyam |
| 1952 | Kalyani | |
| 1952 | Valaiyapathi | |
| 1954 | En Magal | |
| 1954 | Mangalyam | |
| 1954 | Padmini | |
| 1955 | Asai Anna Arumai Thambi | Karuppu |
| 1955 | Gulebagavali | |
| 1955 | Guna Sundari | Eldest son-in-law |
| 1955 | Kalyanam Seydhukko | |
| 1955 | Kathanayaki | |
| 1955 | Maheswari | |
| 1955 | Missiamma | Pandiya |
| 1955 | Mullaivanam | |
| 1955 | Nalla Thangai | |
| 1955 | Pennarasi | |
| 1955 | Town Bus | Mannaru (Velu's Friend) |
| 1956 | Kannin Manigal | |
| 1956 | Naan Petra Selvam | Arivumathi |
| 1956 | Paasavalai | |
| 1957 | Miss Mary (Hindi) | Karunanidhi |
| 1957 | Ambikapathi | Vengayam |
| 1957 | Aaravalli | Naaman |
| 1957 | Manamagan Thevai | |
| 1957 | Mahadhevi | Muthupulavan |
| 1958 | Boologa Rambai | Mahodharan |
| 1958 | Kadan Vaangi Kalyaanam | Drama artiste |
| 1958 | Petra Maganai Vitra Annai | Duttan (Villalan's friend) |
| 1958 | Sarangadhara | |
| 1958 | Thedi Vandha Selvam | |
| 1959 | Alli Petra Pillai | |
| 1959 | Engal Kuladevi | Chanakiyan |
| 1959 | Kan Thiranthathu | Chadaiyan |
| 1959 | Pennkulathin Ponvilakku | |
| 1959 | Veerapandiya Kattabomman | Sundaralingam |
| 1960 | Aadavantha Deivam | Kambodhi |
| 1960 | Adutha Veettu Penn | |
| 1960 | Deivapiravi | Nair |
| 1960 | Ellorum Innaattu Mannar | |
| 1960 | Pudhiya Padhai | |
| 1961 | Kappalottiya Thamizhan | Unnarsamy |
| 1961 | Palum Pazhamum | |
| 1961 | Panam Panthiyile | |
| 1961 | Thirudathe | Makku Maamaa |
| 1962 | Indira En Selvam | Compounder Kailasam |
| 1962 | Padithal Mattum Podhuma | servant of Rao Bahadur |
| 1962 | Thendral Veesum | |
| 1963 | Kalyaniyin Kanavan | Police Constable |
| 1963 | Konjum Kumari | Mannaru (Alli's uncle) |
| 1963 | Paar Magaley Paar | Manickam |
| 1963 | Thulasi Maadam | |
| 1964 | Chitrangi | |
| 1964 | Muradan Muthu | |
| 1965 | Thiruvilaiyadal | |
| 1966 | Madras to Pondicherry | Naidu (Bus Driver) |
| 1966 | Mahakavi Kalidas | |
| 1966 | Mani Magudam | Ulagappan, Vanchi's brother |
| 1966 | Sadhu Mirandal | Passenger (Cinema Makeup artiste; Special Appearance) |
| 1967 | Aalayam | |
| 1967 | Athey Kangal | |
| 1967 | Penn Endral Penn | |
| 1968 | Lakshmi Kalyanam | |
| 1968 | Thillana Mohanambal | Ottu player |
| 1968 | Thirumal Perumai | Nattamai |
| 1969 | Ponnu Mappillai | Thazhamuthu |
| 1970 | Paadhukaappu | |
| 1970 | Enga Mama | Sudden Break Shanmugam |
| 1971 | Aathi Parasakthi | |
| 1971 | Babu | Siluvai |
| 1971 | Deivam Pesuma | |
| 1978 | Thyagam | |
| 1980 | Anbukku Naan Adimai | Head Constable |