In our films and TV the most misrepresented character is Karna. If you read the Mahabharata, Karna is one of the 4 “Chandaal Chaukdi” along with Shakuni, Duryodhana and Dushasana. He was considered responsible for the disr*bing Draupadi and he made some really inappropriate remarks on her. He is shown as jealous and overambitious. Bhishma Pitamah constantly blames Karna for validating the evil thoughts of Duryodhana.
But in our films and shows, Karna is treated as a tragic hero who had been wronged since his birth (which he was) and his positive aspects are emphasized too much while negating his vices. He was involved in some of the most heinous episodes of the Mahabharata namely The disrobing of Draupadi, the k**ling of Abhimanyu etc. Even though Karna is a complex character who suffered injustice but he was not a holier than thou character. In Kalki 2898 I found it a bit weird how they show Prabhas as an incarnation of Karna, and he is the protagonist. I don't know if Karna needs to be portrayed as a total positive character!!
The debate began when some social media users accused director Nag Ashwin of portraying Karna in an overly heroic light, claiming it hurt Hindu sentiments by overlooking the warrior’s flaws. Responding to the criticism, Nag Ashwin urged people to read the Mahabharata carefully!! Ironically it is Nag Ashwin who needs to read Mahabharata carefully to understand that he is not portrayed as a hero in the story. Mahabharata portrays it's characters with grey tones but also establishes who is on the side of Dharma.
Karna evolves into a character who shares Duryodhana's view that Pandavas are bad and enemies, though for different reasons. Karna participates with Duryodhana in schemes to effect the downfall of the Pandavas. Duryodhana provides the goals, Karna conspires the means to get there. In the final year of the exile of the Pandavas, Duryodhana plans to sow dissension and keep the entire empire to himself. In contrast, Bhisma and Drona suggest a conciliation and dividing the kingdom into two, half for Kauravas and other for Pandavas. Karna, in contrast, adopts the hawkish approach and becomes the first to suggest a direct confrontation in the form of the Kurukshetra war. He calls for "together we should slay the Pandavas" as the final solution. Karna persistently recommends violence and an all-out war, to settle things once and for all, by good brave warriors. Karna also accuses Bhisma and Drona as covetous materialists and dishonest in counselling Duryodhana with non-violent strategies. Duryodhana has evil intentions and is a bad king, but it is Karna who fuels Duryodhana's ambitions and fights his battles. With Duryodhana, Karna is a key participant in insulting the Pandavas and Draupadi. He humiliates the Pandavas with his gift of speech and mocks Draupadi, then calls her a "whore" and asks Duhshasana to strip her off her clothes.[60] It is Karna's language and insults that hurt the Pandavas and Draupadi the most, a sentiment that is noted in numerous verses of the Mahabharata such as 3.13.113 and 5.93.11. Yet, states the Mahabharata scholar Alf Hiltebeitel, "remarkably, Karna regrets his harsh words to Draupadi and Pandavas", in verse 5.139.45, where he confesses he spoke so to please Duryodhana.
In short the glorification of Karna should be done with a pinch of salt taking into account his role in perpetuating the crisis that culminated in the war.