Murali Karthikeyan Muthuraman (born 13 September 1960), better known by his screen name Karthik, is a Tamil film actor and politician. He is the son of veteran actor R. Muthuraman. He was first introduced by Bharathiraja in the film Alaigal Oivathillai. He has primarily appeared in lead roles in Tamil films.

Karthik is a four-time winner of Filmfare Award for Best Actor - Tamil and is also a recipient of Tamil Nadu State Film Awards and Nandi Awards.

Early life and background[link]

Karthik was born in Chennai to R. Muthuraman, a popular Tamil actor. He studied in St. Bede's Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School in Chennai then at New College, Chennai and received a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Film career[link]

Karthik was first introduced by Bharathiraja in the film Alaigal Oivathillai. He has received the Best New Face Award from the Tamil Nadu Government in 1980. He has collaborated with leading film directors in the Tamil and Telugu Industry. He has worked with leading Tamil Film directors like Maniratnam, Balachandar, Bharathiraja, R.Sundarrajan, R.V.Udayakumar, Priyadarshan, Fazil, Vikraman, Agathiyan, Sundar.C, KS.Ravikumar, P.Vasu etc.

He is a celebrated actor of Tamil Nadu next to Kamalhaasan according to co-artists and one of a pioneer from Southern India in film industry. He was awarded with the title “Navarasa Nayagan (Tamil)” implies multitalented actor. He has received the best actor for three consecutive times by Tamil Nadu government. He is an expert, true professional in Tamil Cine industry and has enormous talent in playing variety roles.

His way of acting, expressions, romantic style separates him from others. He is popular with the audience for sense of humor and was involved with several small comedy scenes in most of his movies. His cameo in Mouna Ragam was very well received by the audience. During his later years, he formed a partnership with Goundamani in many comedy movies. His pairing with Rambha was a hit with audience as the pair provided good hits in the nineties.

In 2009, Karthik signed on to play a supporting role in Mani Ratnam's Raavanan, thus making a comeback in Tamil cinema. His first release of the innings was however in Maanja Velu, in which he played a police officer alongside Arun Vijay, though the film became a financial failure. He received critical acclaim for his portrayal of Gnanapragasam in Raavanan featuring alongside Vikram, Aishwarya Rai and Prithviraj. He also went on to feature in a supporting role in Puli Vesham directed by P. Vasu, although the film went largely unnoticed.

Political career[link]

Karthik entered politics ahead of the 2006 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election. He joined the All India Forward Bloc, and was appointed as the Secretary of the Tamil Nadu state unit of the party. He led the party during its electoral campaign On 24 September 2006. He later started his own party Ahila India Naadalum Makkal Katchi in 2009 before the Lok Sabha Elections. He contested from Virudhunagar constituency.Allegedly he never campaigned and was routed in the election.

2011 Assembly elections[link]

His party tried alliance with AIADMK for the 2011 Assembly elections,later it did not come up since AIADMK supremo denied tickets for his party . Karthik sat on a fast in Madurai demanding Madurai Airport be renamed as Pasumpon Thevar Airport .^[1]

Awards[link]

Filmfare Awards South

• 1988 – Filmfare Award for Best Actor - Tamil for Agni Natchathiram
• 1989 – Filmfare Award for Best Actor — Tamil for Varusham Padhinaaru
• 1990 – Filmfare Award for Best Actor — Tamil for Kizhakku Vasal
• 1993 – Filmfare Award for Best Actor — Tamil for Ponnumani

Tamil Nadu State Film Awards

• 1981 – Best Male Debut Award for Alaigal Oivathillai
• 1988 – Special Prize for Best Actor for Agni Natchathiram
• 1990 – Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor for Kizhakku Vasal
• 1998 – Special Prize for Best Actor for Pooveli and Unnidathil Ennai Koduthen
• Kalaimamani

Cinema Express Awards

• 1998 – Cinema Express Award for Best Actor – Tamil for Unnidathil Ennai Koduthen

Nandi Awards

• 1987 – Nandi Special Jury Award for Abhinandana

Personal life[link]

Karthik is married to Ragini, his co-star in the film Solai Kuyil, and has two sons. His eldest son Gautham will be starring in a Tamil movie titled Kadal directed by Mani Ratnam.

Filmography[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Karthik (actor) at the Internet Movie Database
• Profile of karthik at jointscene