Karuppu Raja, known for his stage name Ganja Karuppu (born 5 January 1976), is an Indian actor who has predominantly appeared in comedy roles in Tamil cinema. After making his debut in Bala's Pithamagan (2003), Ganja Karuppu experienced success in the late 2000s with his roles in Raam (2005), Sivakasi (2005), Paruthiveeran (2007), Subramaniyapuram (2008) and Naadodigal (2009).
Career Karuppu was introduced as an actor by director Bala in Pithamagan (2003) as a person who works in the ganja plantations. As a result of the role, he was thereafter credited in films as Ganja Karuppu. In the 2000s, he subsequently was regularly cast in rural films by directors, working on notable films including Ameer's Raam (2005) and Paruthiveeran (2007), Sasikumar's Subramaniapuram (2008), Samuthirakani's Naadodigal (2009) and Sargunam's Kalavani (2010). During the period, he was also cast in the second lead role in Chimbudevan's Arai En 305-il Kadavul (2008) alongside Santhanam, produced by S Pictures. The period of success meant that he was cast in the lead role of a film titled Mannar Valaikuda by Dhanasekaran. Despite making progress, the film about the plight of the fishermen community did not have a theatrical release.
In 2012, Karuppu was set to enter Bollywood with a role in the Hindi remake of Samuthirakani's Poraali (2011), but the film eventually did not materialise. He had revealed that he would change his name to "Ganja Khan" for his stint in the Hindi film industry. Karuppu chose to turn film producer with Velmurugan Borewells (2014) but the film went through production delays and had a low profile theatrical release, losing him a significant amount of money. Director Bala later criticised Karuppu for unnecessarily putting his acting career in jeopardy with the move. Following a period away from notable films, Karuppu made a comeback with significant roles in S. J. Surya's as Isai (2015) and Dharma Durai (2016).
In 2017, he participated in the first season of the Tamil reality television show Bigg Boss hosted by Kamal Haasan. After regularly clashing with fellow actor Bharani, he was evicted on day 14.
Personal life
He married Sangeetha, a physiotherapist, in January 2010 in a ceremony held in his home town of Nattarasankottai. His first son was born in April 2011 in Madurai. In 2013, he chose to adopt the expenses of five mentally ill people in Trichy. Later in 2016, he announced his intentions of becoming a politician.
Filmography Year Film RoleNotes2003 Pithamagan Ganja Kudukki credited as Sivagangai Karuppu2005 Raam Vazhavandhaan Thirudiya Idhayathai credited as Karuppu Raja Chidambarathil Oru Appasamy Sivakasi Udayappa's sidekick Bambara Kannaley Sandakozhi Balu's house servant 2006 Kalvanin Kadhali Karuppu Thirupathi Muthu Kodambakkam Unnakum Ennakum Karuppiah Aran Ganja Karuppu Sivappathigaram Vellai Kizhakku Kadarkarai Salai Petrol Pump Employee Aacharya Kokki 2007 Thaamirabharani Muthu Paruthiveeran Douglas Pirappu Kotti Adavadi Madurai Veeran Himself Thirumagan Pasupathi c/o Rasakkapalayam Karuppu Azhagiya Thamizh Magan Kathiravan's assistant Mirugam Idi Thangi Nenjirukkum Varai Auto Driver Pazhaniappa Kalloori 2008 Pirivom Santhippom Karuppu Pidichirukku Esakki Vilaiyattu Arai En 305-il Kadavul Mokkai Swami Inba "Saavi" Shankar Pandi Thalaiathi Subramaniapuram Kaasi Uliyin Osai Soodamani Thenavattu Vellaiyan Panchamirtham Muthu 2009 A Aa E Ee Kicha Kadhalna Summa Illai Naadodigal Maariyappan Vaigai Jeevarasi Engal Aasan Yogiyan Malayan Malai Malai Karuppu Aarupadai Karuppu Raja Aarumaname Periyasamy, Chinnasamy Dual roles Suriyan Satta Kalloori Idithangi Yogi 'Stills' Mani Mathiya Chennai Balam Altap Arumugam 2010 Maanja Velu Bhooshan Kathai Aval Peyar Thamizharasi Othappuli Kutti Pisasu Karuppu Kattradhu Kalavu Pen Singam Kalavani Panchayathu Vamsam Sombhu Mani Sindhu Samaveli Church father Irandu Mugam Ochayee Azhagar Aarvam Tea master Vallakottai Veera Sangili Magizchi Rasappan Siddu Monnaiyan 2011 Thambikottai Karuppu Sankarankovil Killi Pillai Venghai Ganesan Puli Vesham Karuppu Aayiram Vilakku Tyson Keezhatheru Kichaa Thambi Vettothi Sundaram Current Konjam Sirippu Konjam Kobam Poraali Pulikutti 2012 Medhai Oru Nadigaiyin Vaakkumoolam Arokkiyasamy Soozhnilai Kondaan Koduthaan Pachamuthu Mazhaikaalam Sooriya Nagaram Ooh La La La Iron Shop Mayanginen Thayanginen Muthukumar's friend Mirattal Kathi Mayilu Kai Puyal Perumal Akilan 2013 Naangaam Pirai Vellachi Keeripulla Vetkathai Kettal Ennai Tharuvaai Chikki Mukki Paandi Maiyam Konden Thirumathi Thamizh Orissa Constable Malayalam film Thiru Pugazh Sokkali Mouna Mazhai https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/review/2013/Sep/21/mouna-mazhai-a-routine-love-story-518631.html Nugam Muthu Nagaram Chithirayil Nilachoru Kolagalam Sandhithathum Sindhithathum 2014 Kovalanin Kadhali Adhu Vera Idhu Vera Amara Kandharvan Vetri Selvan Thalakonam Kalkandu Azhappan Appuchi Gramam Velmurugan Borewells 2015 Isai Karuppu Vethu Vettu Attachi Appakadai worker Paranjothi Kangaroo Kangaroo's friend Lailaa O Lailaa Auto driver Malayalam film Maharani Kottai Madhura Naranga Sri Lankan Tamil tourist guide Malayalam film2016 Sowkarpettai Sandikuthirai Dharma Durai Compounder 2017 Unnai Thottu Kolla Vaa Thondan Xavier Paakanum Pola Irukku Choo Choo Maari Ullam Ullavarai Kurangu Bommai Viji's brother Kida Virundhu Palli Paruvathile Peon Kalavadiya Pozhudugal Gnanam 2018 Nimir Sadha's brother-in-law Kannakkol Kasu Mela Kasu Cameo appearance Sandakozhi 2 Durai's servant Bayangaramana Aalu Piraanmalai 2019 Dhevakottai Kadhal Gilli Bambaram Goli Thanimai Kadhal Munnetra Kazhagam Karmegham Oviyavai Vitta Yaru Vannakili Bharathi Kalavani 2 Panchayathu Vennila Kabaddi Kuzhu 2 Paandi 2020 Irumbu Manithan Munikannan Kombu 2022 Maamanithan House Broker Nokka Nokka Manja Kuruvi Aruvaa Sanda 2023 En 6 Vaathiyaar Kaalpanthatta Kuzhu Sri Sabari Ayyappan 2025 Aandavan Panai Cristina Kathirvelan Television Year Title Role Platform Notes 2017 Bigg Boss Contestant Star Vijay Evicted Day 14 2025 Om Kali Jai Kali Vakkeel JioHotstar Debut web series 2025 - presentCooku with Comali - Season 6ContestantStar VijayEliminated on episode 132026ResortChef Chidambaram "Chika"JioHotstar
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