Bihar at 12:05, 19 February 2026

2026-02-19T12:05:31Z

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{{Short description|Indian film director}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Karuna Kumar
| birth_date =
| birth_place = [[Andhra Pradesh]], India
| occupation = {{hlist|Film director|screenwriter}}
| years_active = 2020–present
| relatives =
}}

'''Karuna Kumar''' is an Indian film director and screenwriter who works primarily in [[Telugu cinema]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Bureau|first=ABP News|date=2021-08-27|title=Sridevi Soda Center Maker Karuna Kumar Will Only Cast Telugu Actors In His Films, Here Is Why|url=https://news.abplive.com/entertainment/sridevi-soda-center-director-karuna-kumar-will-only-cast-telugu-actors-in-his-films-here-is-why-1478830|access-date=2022-01-05|website=news.abplive.com|language=en}}</ref> 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 system in India|caste discrimination]] and [[untouchability]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-03-02|title=From Palasa 1978 to Orey Bujjiga, here're 5 highly anticipated Telugu movies set to release in March|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/from-palasa-1978-to-orey-bujjiga-herere-5-highly-anticipated-telugu-movies-set-to-release-in-march/photostory/74439845.cms|access-date=2021-01-08|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref> It was featured in year-end best films' charts including ''[[Film Companion]]'' and ''[[The Times of India]].''<ref>{{Cite web|title=Best Telugu Movies of 2020 {{!}} Top Rated Telugu Films of 2020 {{!}} Top 30 Best Telugu Movies of 2020 {{!}} Etimes|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/top-rated-movies/telugu/best-movies/2020/2742911|access-date=2022-01-05|website=timesofindia.indiatimes.com}}</ref> His next directorial ''Metro Kathalu'' was released on streaming service [[Aha (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".<ref>{{Citation|title=Metro Kathalu Review: An incomplete anthology that doesn't offer what it promises|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/reviews/telugu/metro-kathalu/webseriesshow/77463001.cms|access-date=2022-01-05}}</ref> He then directed ''[[Sridevi Soda Center]]'' featuring [[Sudheer Babu]] and [[Anandhi (actress)|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".<ref>{{Cite news|last=Dundoo|first=Sangeetha Devi|date=2021-08-27|title='Sridevi Soda Center' movie review: Succumbing to mainstream masala|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/reviews/sridevi-soda-center-movie-review-karuna-kumar-and-sudheer-babu-film-takes-a-mainstream-approach-to-a-disturbing-issue/article36134956.ece|access-date=2022-01-05|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> Others critics opined that the film could do much better in terms of screenplay.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Pathi|first=Thadhagath|date=27 August 2021|title=Sridevi Soda Center Movie Review: A powerful story with a gut-wrenching ending|work=[[The Times of India]]|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movie-reviews/sridevi-soda-center/movie-review/85685186.cms|access-date=27 August 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-08-27|title=Sridevi Soda Center Movie Review: Predictable screenplay kills the game|url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/telugu/review/2021/aug/27/sridevi-soda-center-movie-review-predictable-screenplay-kills-the-game-26297.html|website=[[Cinema Express]]}}</ref>

Before the release of ''[[Sridevi Soda Center]]'', in July 2021, ''[[The Hans India]]'' reported that Kumar has eight upcoming films.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Vyas|date=2021-07-20|title=Karuna Kumar has 8 projects in his pipeline!|url=https://www.thehansindia.com/cinema/tollywood/karuna-kumar-has-8-projects-in-his-pipeline-696930|access-date=2022-01-05|website=www.thehansindia.com|language=en}}</ref> In November 2021, he walked out of the Telugu remake of the Malayalam film, [[Nayattu (2021 film)|''Nayattu'']], over creative differences.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Karuna Kumar quits Nayattu Telugu remake?|url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/telugu/news/2021/nov/22/karuna-kumar-quits-nayattu-telugu-remake-27983.html|access-date=2022-01-05|website=[[Cinema Express]]|language=en}}</ref>

== Filmography ==

=== As director and writer ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+List of films
!Year
!Title
|-
| rowspan="2" |2020
|''[[Palasa 1978]]''
|-
|''Metro Kathalu''
|-
|2021
|''[[Sridevi Soda Center]]''
|-
|2022
|''Kalapuram''
|-
|2024
|''[[Matka (film)|Matka]]''
|-
|2026
|''[[Honey (2026 film)|Honey]]''
|}

=== As actor ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Year
!Title
!Role
|-
|2020
|''[[Uma Maheswara Ugra Roopasya]]''
|Karuna
|-
|2025
|''[[Katha Kamamishu]]''
|Sridhar
|}

== Awards and nominations ==
{| class="wikitable"
|+List of awards and nominations received
!Year
!Award
!Category
!Work
!Result
!Ref.
|-
|[[10th South Indian International Movie Awards|2021]]
|[[South Indian International Movie Awards]]
|[[SIIMA Award for Best Debut Director – Telugu|Best Debut Director – Telugu]]
| rowspan="2" |''[[Palasa 1978]]''
|{{won}}
|<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-09-21|title=Manju Warrier, Suriya, others win at SIIMA Awards: Full list of winners|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/manju-warrier-suriya-others-win-siima-awards-full-list-winners-155560|website=The News Minute}}</ref>
|-
|[[20th Santosham Film Awards|2021]]
|[[Santosham Film Awards]]
|Best Debut Director
|{{won}}
|<ref>{{Cite web|last=Naresh|title=Suman TV - South Indian Film Awards: సంతోషం - సుమన్ టివి సౌత్ ఇండియన్ ఫిలిం అవార్డ్స్ ప్రమోషన్స్ కి సూపర్ రెస్పాన్స్ - Suman TV|url=https://sumantv.com/movies/santhosham-suman-tv-awards-2021-super-response-to-suman-tv-south-indian-film-awards-promotions/47291/|access-date=2021-11-14|language=en-US|archive-date=14 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211114070218/https://sumantv.com/movies/santhosham-suman-tv-awards-2021-super-response-to-suman-tv-south-indian-film-awards-promotions/47291/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|}

== References ==
<references />

== External links ==
* {{IMDb name|id=nm10857692|name=Karuna Kumar}}
{{SIIMA Award for Best Debut Director – Telugu}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kumar, Karuna}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Film directors from Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Telugu film directors]]
[[Category:Screenwriters from Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Telugu screenwriters]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian screenwriters]]
[[Category:Indian film directors]]
[[Category:South Indian International Movie Awards winners]]
[[Category:Santosham Film Awards winners]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]

Karuna Kumar - Revision history

Bihar at 12:05, 19 February 2026