“The success of a former police officer in film industry!
- Interview with Karate Karthi of ‘Doctor’ fame
Malayalam cinema welcomed the ‘Doctor’ actor!
Karate Karthi is a famous artist who has been chosen by Tamil cinema many times to be its own person. Karate Karthi is the right-hand man of the villain in the movie ‘Doctor’, who plays the character of Gomathi Akka.
Before this, he has acted in films like ‘Ennai Arindaal’, ‘Kaithi’, ‘Theeran Adhigaram Ondru and ‘Chitrai Sevvanam’. His role in the recently released Malayalam movie ‘Kooman’ directed by Jeethu Joseph is very important. His performance is getting appreciation from Malayalam and Tamil film artists.
Karate Karthi, who stands six feet tall and looks intimidating, has won multiple medals in Karate and boxing. We met Karate Karthi who is currently acting in Rajinikanth’s ‘Jailer’ directed by Nelson.
As a Karate Master, how did you get into the films?
People who have seen me in ‘Doctor’ may have thought that I am a Northerner. But I am from Madurai. Cinema has been my life since childhood. But I used to work in Central Reserve Police. I have won many medals in karate and boxing for my department team. While I was doing my work effectively, I kept getting the urge for cinema again and again. I quit my job in 2006 when I was due to get a promotion as an SI and decided to pursue cinema.
I experienced a lot of difficulties after entering the field. In the film ‘Dasavatharam’ I acted as a member of the crowd for a salary of 150 rupees. In the beginning, such opportunities came. Then I worked as a gymboy with a salary of 350 rupees. That period was a whirlwind of trials around me. At that time my wife took care of the family. I acted in serials till 2012. I used to act in serials like ‘Anandham’ and ‘Kolamagal’. In 2014, I got an opportunity to speak a dialogue with Ajith in the film ‘Ennai Aindaal’. It was Master Silva who made this opportunity possible. I am indebted to him for this. I started following cinema from there.
Did you get any bigger characters after that?
“I was fighting hard as they say hard work never fails. I was facing only failures and I pretended to be hanging upside down between two buses in the fight scene of the film ‘Theeran Adhigaram Undu’. At some point there was hope. ‘Prisoner’ was the opportunity available at that time. Seeing that, director Nelson gave me an opportunity in the film ‘Doctor’.
Gomati Akka character got good reach. The major change in my life started with the movie ‘Doctor’. Here he has given me another chance in ‘Jailer’. I have already acted in ‘Petta’ with Rajini. I am an ardent devotee of Rajini sir. I told him this during the shoot itself and took his blessing. Now I feel privileged to act in ‘Jailer’ with the leader.
“It was Stunt Master Silva who started the important phase of my screen career. S.A. directed the film ‘Mei’ in his film ‘Chithrai Sevvanam’. Bhaskaran served as co-director. He is also the co-director of the currently released movie “Kooman” and it was through him that he got the chance to act in the movie ‘Kooman’. I played a huge role in Kooman in a very important role. I can’t forget how much everyone who watched the film praised me.
I don’t know Malayalam. They wrote the Malayalam dialogues in English. But I had difficulties in speaking Malayalam. However, director Jeethu Joseph and writer Krishnakumar gave me good advice and got me a job. No matter how many talented actors there are in Malayalam, I will be thankful for the rest of my life for believing in me and giving me such a great character. Also I can’t forget that the hero of the film, Asif Ali, and the heroine, Hannah Reggie, were all kind to me.”
What kind of characters are there next?
“I will play any character given to me. But playing a villain is an extra bonus for me. I like Asokan, Nambiar, Raghuvaran and Prakashraj among the villain actors. Like them, I will continue to work hard to get a place in Tamil cinema. I hope that I will get a good place in cinema as I came to cinema without any background.”
May Karate Karthi’s confidence rise and let him scale further heights!
