Karu Palaniappan

In 2016, Palaniappan spent time on pre-production for a film titled Gramophone featuring Madhavan and Rajkiran in the lead roles. Despite working on it for a year, the film failed to materialise owing to Madhavan's busy schedule. In September 2017, he announced his next film would be a political thriller film titled Pugazhenthi Enum Naan featuring Arulnithi and Bindu Madhavi.

Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Sadhurangam – 2011

Palaniappan's directorial debut was Parthiban Kanavu, starring Srikanth and Sneha. The film become one of the biggest hits of the year. Palaniappan's second film, Sivappathigaram, starring Vishal, released in 2006 and fared well at the box office. His 2008 film Pirivom Santhippom got major attention of the family audience. His fourth directorial film, Mandhira Punnagai, saw him making his debut as a hero. His second film with Srikanth called Sadhurangam, was finished in 2006 and remained unreleased for a long time. At last, the film released in 2011. Srikanth's character in the film was named after Thirupathisamy, Palaniappan's close friend who died in 2001. He directed the 2013 film Jannal Oram, a remake of the Malayalam film Ordinary. 2019 saw him acting in a negative role in the movie Natpe Thunai.

In 2005, Palaniappan began work on a film with Dhanush and Gopika in lead roles, titled Ashokamithran, but the film ran production troubles and was subsequently shelved. He later began work on that film in 2012 with a new crew and Arulnithi in the lead role; however, after two months of shooting, the film was again cancelled. The director and actor tried to revive the project in late 2013, but were again unsuccessful. Likewise, another project, a family drama Pandiya Vamsam starring Ameer and Rajkiran, was called off soon after production started.

Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Director for Parthiban Kanavu – 2003

Palaniappan sustained reading and movie-watching with zest and zeal created an affiliation to cinema within himself, thus inspiring his first toddler steps into Kollywood in 1994. Though he is acclaimed as director Parthiban's protégé, Palaniappan worked under two other directors. With Parthiban, he worked in Pullakuttikaran and Housefull. His grey cells contributed to director Dharani's stories that did not get transformed into films in the sandwiched time frame between the latter's films Edhirum Pudhirum and Dhill. He worked under director Ezhil in Thulladha Manamum Thullum, Pennin Manathai Thottu, and Poovellam Un Vasam.