While RJ Balaji's latest film Karuppu, starring Suriya as the titular guardian deity has been setting cash registers ringing across India and garnering praise, a section of audiences had pointed out many scenes that seemed to be inspired from popular films including Rishab Shetty's Kantara: Chapter 1 (2025), Hemanth M Rao's Sapta Sagaradaache Ello - Side A (2023) and Jim Carrey's Liar Liar (1997).
Acknowledging the same, RJ Balaji, in a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter India said, "I wasn't happy with the climax of the film that I wanted to shoot. Post Singam, there was another sequence. That was always disturbing for me. We did a good job, but it was okay and adequate. Then, my friend came from the US and we decided to go watch Kantara 2. I saw the film for the 9 am morning show in a city's multiplex theatre. In one 10-minute-portion, I saw people going into a trance. I was feeling so inspired."
The filmmaker further revealed that it was that sequence that made him create a similar scene in Karuppu featuring the deity Karuppusamy for the climax. "I got inspired from Kantara 2, yes. I was also amazed by a sequence in Sapta Sagaradaache Ello - Side A. I called Hemanth and told him that I will be using a similar scene in my film and he said, 'Sir, it is very inspiring that you are calling and saying this.' But I can't call Jim Carrey and tell him that I am taking a scene from Liar Liar. I informed people whom I had access to," he added.
In Karuppu, Suriya aka Karuppusamy assumes the form of a lawyer by the name of Saravanan after a devotee in distress, pleads for justice. The cast of the film also includes Trisha, Indrans, Swasika, Sshivada, Anagha Maya Ravi, Supreeth Reddy, Natty Natraj, among others. The filmmaker portrays the antagonist, Baby Kannan. The film is currently having a successful run in theatres and has already surpassed the Rs 250 crore milestone in collections worldwide.
