Karnan (pronunciationⓘ) is a 2021 Indian Tamil-language action drama film directed by Mari Selvaraj, and produced by Kalaipuli S. Thanu.

The film stars Dhanush, Rajisha Vijayan (in her Tamil debut), Lal, Yogi Babu, Lakshmi Priyaa Chandramouli and Natty Subramaniam.

[2] In southern Tamil Nadu, two neighbouring villages, Melur and Podiyankulam in Tirunelveli find themselves in constant conflict as the latter is denied a bus stop.

Weeks later, Karnan participates in an open selection camp for the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), where his grandfather, Yaema Raja, is worried that Karnan would lose the opportunity to join government service, if his hot-headedness would involve him in any legal trouble with the Melur villagers and is constantly looking out for him.

Karnan loses his younger sister who died in the beginning due to a seizure when she saved the money for Padmini's marriage.

Meanwhile, tensions escalate between Melur and Podiyankulam, as Karnan, along with his friends and Yaema Raja vandalises a bus for not stopping by to help a pregnant lady.

Though the bus owner and Podiyankulam's residents settle the issue amicably, the incident bruises Kannabiran's ego, who feels that the villagers must always be shown their place.

He asks Podiyankulam's village heads to come and sign at the area police station, only to brutally assault them for an hour and lock them up overnight.

The guys fight off the police, find the elders on the rooftop under the burning sun, and take them home using a confiscated tractor.

To save his community, Yaema Raja kills himself by self-immolation, and Karnan is forced to return with the local deity's sword in hand.

In November 2018, Dhanush announced his upcoming project will be directed by Mari Selvaraj, who also appreciated the director's debut film Pariyerum Perumal for its making and content.

[3] Selvaraj too confirmed the news in his tweet,[4] and Kalaipuli S. Thanu backed the project under his production house V Creations,[5] his second consecutive film with Dhanush, after Vetrimaaran's Asuran (2019).

[7] In September 2019, sources claimed that the film may begin production in December 2019, once Dhanush completes shooting for the Karthik Subbaraj-directorial titled Jagame Thandhiram.

[8][a] In September, Dhanush met Mari Selvaraj in London while shooting for D40, in order to finalise the script for the film.

After Dhanush was impressed by the narration of the final script,[10] the makers kick-started the pre-production works of the film on 29 September,[11] with Santhosh Narayanan being announced as the composer.

[14] In September 2019, Malayalam actress Rajisha Vijayan signed the female lead opposite Dhanush, thus making her debut in Tamil.

[24][25] After wrapping the shoot for Karthik Subbaraj's Jagame Thandhiram, Dhanush joined the film's sets in Tirunelveli on 3 January.

[32] Nine months later, on 25 November 2020, the team resumed film shooting in order to complete few patchwork scenes[33] and was wrapped up on 9 December 2020.

[54] Producer Kalaipuli S. Thanu tweeted that the film will be released on the scheduled date despite new restrictions on theatre occupancy being imposed.

[57] Due to the huge demand for the film, many theatres announced screening early morning shows across Tamil Nadu.

[citation needed] Karnan registered ₹10.40 crore at the box office, which marked Dhanush's highest opening in his career.

"[68] Ranjani Krishnakumar in her review for Firstpost explained the film's biggest success which lies in the writing, and also stated that "In spite of bringing together dozens of characters, Selvaraj makes each one of them real".

[69] A critic from Sify gave five out of five stars saying "Karnan is a classic revenge saga that talks about the pain, suffering, and rise of the oppressed.

[73] R. Chandrashekharan, president of the Sivaji Social Welfare Association, wrote a letter to producer Thanu requesting a change in the film's title.

[75] On 21 February, former actor and politician Karunas from the Tamil Nadu Mukkulathor Pulipadai,[b] demanded ban on the film since it was reported to be based on the 1995 Kodiyankulam caste riots.

Udhayanidhi Stalin (Youth Wing leader of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam), who praised the film and its makers, also pointed out the alleged discrepancy in the timeline of the riots.

[84] But with DMK's disapproval in the changes, the team later released a card which had a quote stating "The times when the common man began to fight for the basic needs and human rights", in place of the incident's date shown in the film.