When actor Arya went to Coimbatore to promote his film Vasuvum Saravananum Onna Padichvanga (VSOP), his co-star Karunakaran, who calls himself the third wheel in the film, joined the actor. Arya was full of praise for Karunakaran, saying everyone wanted him in their films.
In a span of two years, Karunakaran has portrayed a variety of roles. The amount of time on screen does not seem to bother him, and he bowls over viewers with his performances. Karunakaran finds both pleasure and pressure in this.
“Definitely, it’s a mix of both. While there is pressure to deliver good performances, there is a certain pleasure that I derive from knowing that people like me. Nowadays, if I get a day’s gap, I become restless. I just want to keep working,” he says excitedly.
Karunakaran is particular about one thing when it comes to taking up a role. “The theme of the movie should be new and it does not matter if the role is big or small. Audience have a lot of expectations from me and I should live up to it,” he says. He is now shooting for director Vasanth’s Sivagamiyum Innum Sila Pengalum, in which he plays the lead. “I’m happy with the response I am getting. I am getting to do a variety of roles.These include everything from comedy to emotional ones. The directors have started recognising me as an actor who can perform any role. I am happy with the roles that Vasanth sir and Radha Mohan sir have given me in their respective films,” he informs.
Calling VSOP a feel good film. Karunakaran goes on to share his experiences working on this film. “I have never come across a director like Rajesh. He is cool, calm and composed. There was a scene which had to be shot in a local theatre and as a big star’s film was being screened then, the whole unit was tense wondering if we would be able to shoot the scenes. But then, Rajesh sir had no tension, ” he recalls. The actor is in awe of Arya too. “I have shot only in the Puducherry leg of the film and my scenes are few. But we had a whale of a time with Arya and Santhanam together. Arya is very particular about fitness and keeps advising me on what to do and what no to.”
Looking at the final outcome of VSOP, Karunakaran is happy to have been a part of the film. “Cinematographer Nirav Shah has done a brilliant job. The shots in Chennai for a song look like they were shot in foreign locales,” he says.
While on the work front it seems like Karunakaran is all set to rule the screens with Gethu, Uppu Karuvadu, Iraivi, Kanithan, Jackson Durai and much more, there is still an unfulfilled wish. “I won’t call it a wish. It’s greed. I want to work with Kamal sir. After Soodhu Kavvum, I was happy getting clicked alongside him. But now that I am growing as an actor, I want to work with him. My friends will consider me an actor only if I star alongside him too,” he laughed.