Karnan (U/A)
09/Apr/2021 Action, Drama 2 Hrs 20 Mins

4.00

Dhanush and Mari Selvaraj's dagger against social injustice

Mari Selvaraj's Karnan is a tale weaved around social injustice & a protagonist who rises to the occasion. His writing not only dictates the narrative but captivates the viewer from the get-go. This isn't a film that will let you walk in a couple of minutes late & allow you to be okay about it. The ...(more)

Source: Meera Chithirapaavai , MovieCrow

4.00

Perfect example of good cinema

Mari Selvaraj has made sure that Kannan, the God of Mahabharata is a villain here and Karnan, the unsung hero gets enough glorification on screen. There are many metaphors including the little girl with an idol-like mask, a donkey whose legs are tied, the vulture that eats up the weak pullet, names ...(more)

Source: Moviebuff, Sify.com

4.00

Karnan is a powerful tale of defiance against oppression

Mari Selvaraj shows that sometimes violence can also be catharsis. He makes us care for the people and feel for their struggles so much that when the entire village faces off against cops in the second half, the moment feels as exhilarating as when the one in the Avengers, when the superheroes take ...(more)

Source: M Suganth, Times Of India

3.50

Dhanush's film is a powerful, bold portrait of caste-based riots and police brutality

Karnan raises several valid questions � all equally important- about the state of the oppressed community in our society. Through soul-stirring visuals of Theni Eswar, the film gives us a front row seat to the events that led to the infamous Kodiyankulam riots which was allegedly orchestrated by the...(more)

Source: Haricharan Pudipeddi, Hindustan Times

3.50

Dhanush and Lal make a fantastic pair in a film that resists, rises and revolts

Mari Selvaraj is, of course, angry. But he channels all that built-up rage into making a powerful piece of art. He seems to be at much more ease about his craft now. Right after Pariyerum Perumal, there was criticism of Selvaraj dumbing down the movement spearheaded by Pa Ranjith(more)

Source: Srivatsan, The Hindu

3.25

Dhanush and Mari deliver a strong statement against oppression through Karnan. Must watch.

It's impossible to imagine anyone except Dhanush as Karnan. His screen presence provides enough swagger to the action sequences while his acting in the other scenes melt your heart. He fits perfectly into the character designed by Mari. Among other actors, Lal, Rajisha Vijayan and Lakshmipriyaa Chan...(more)

Source: Behindwoods Review Board, Behindwoods.com

4.50

Dhanush, Mari Selvaraj deliver an audacious film about a community�s fight for dignity

Karnan is not the story of one person affecting another person in one incident. It is the culmination of historical violence meted out to an entire community by those in power. To understand Karnan's rage, we need to see how everyone disregards his entire existence every day. The lack of a bus stop...(more)

Source: Ranjani Krishnakumar, Firstpost.com

4.00

Mari Selvaraj's dance of defiance makes for glorious cinema

The real pleasures of Karnan aren't these mass moments though; it's the film's love and empathy for a trampled people and their way of life. It presents with such detail their music, devotion, ritual, dance� why, even their gambling. The story is hardly revolutionary, even if it is about one. And ye...(more)

Source: Sudhir Srinivasan, CinemaExpress.com