Karunaas appears to have found something particularly meaningful in Enna Vilai, not just a lead role, but the kind of response to his performance that he says he has rarely received in his career. Speaking at the film’s audio launch, the actor looked back at some of the reactions he received while working on the project.

One such moment involved Malayalam actor Nimisha Sajayan, who stars alongside him in the film. Karunaas recalled that she had an unexpectedly emotional response after watching him perform a particular scene. Rather than simply complimenting him, her reaction, he said, was spontaneous.

“After I finished acting in one scene, she got goosebumps. She came to me, hugged me tightly and kissed me on the cheek to appreciate my performance,” Karunaas said. He noted that the response from another actor was especially gratifying because it came immediately after witnessing the performance.

He also recalled receiving words of appreciation from Poornima Bhagyaraj, who appears as a judge in the film. But according to Karunaas, the response from his wife Grace carried a different weight. After watching the film, she reportedly told him that the project could change how audiences perceive him.

“I have acted in so many films, but my wife Grace has never appreciated me the way she appreciated this film. She told me, ‘Somehow, Karuna, this film will bring me value and respect,’” he recalled.

Enna Vilai is directed by Sajeev Paloor and is slated for a September 17 theatrical release. The film features Karunaas in the lead, with Nimisha Sajayan in a prominent role. The project has also had a run through the international festival circuit, where it has reportedly secured four awards.