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).
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.[2] 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.[3] 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.[4][5]
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.[6] 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.[7][8] 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).[9]
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.
He married Sangeetha, a physiotherapist, in January 2010 in a ceremony held in his home town of Nattarasankottai.[10][11] His first son was born in April 2011 in Madurai.[12] In 2013, he chose to adopt the expenses of five mentally ill people in Trichy.[13] Later in 2016, he announced his intentions of becoming a politician.[14]
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Pithamagan | Ganja Kudukki | credited as Sivagangai Karuppu |
| 2005 | Raam | Vazhavandhaan | |
| Thirudiya Idhayathai | |||
| 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 and Chinnasamy | ||
| 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 | [15] | ||
| Thirumathi Thamizh | |||
| Orissa | Malayalam film | ||
| Thiru Pugazh | [16] | ||
| Sokkali | |||
| Nugam | |||
| Muthu Nagaram | |||
| Chithirayil Nilachoru | |||
| Kolagalam | |||
| Sandhithathum Sindhithathum | |||
| 2014 | Kovalanin Kadhali | ||
| Adhu Vera Idhu Vera | |||
| Amara | |||
| Kandharvan | |||
| Vetri Selvan | |||
| Kalkandu | Azhappan | ||
| Appuchi Gramam | |||
| Velmurugan Borewells | |||
| 2015 | Isai | Karuppu | |
| Paranjothi | |||
| Kangaroo | Kangaroo's friend | ||
| Lailaa O Lailaa | Auto driver | Malayalam film | |
| Maharani Kottai | |||
| Madhura Naranga | Sri Lankan Tamil tourist guide | Malayalam film | |
| 2016 | 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 | |||
| 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 |
| 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 - present | Cooku with Comali - Season 6 | Contestant | Star Vijay | Eliminated on episode 13 |
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