Hosts Karnataka tightened their grip on the Ranji Trophy Super League match, as Tamil Nadu, needing 276 to avoid a follow-on, ended day two at 119 for four, in Bangalore on Wednesday.
Earlier, Karnataka resuming at their overnight score of 309 for 6, were all out for 426.
The reliable Hemang Badani's wicket, with just three balls to go for stumps, gave Karnataka the upper hand.
Opener M Vijay was unbeaten on a dogged 48.
Debutant Gaurav Dhiman provided Karnataka the perfect start, his direct hit from mid-off sending S Anirudha back to the pavilion in the first over.
Vijay and one-drop R Prasanna (39) put on 77 runs for the second wicket before the latter edged K P Apanna to Rowland Barrington at short leg.
Seasoned left-arm spinner Sunil Joshi then trapped skipper S Badrinath leg before in the 34th over before the hosts tasted another success through off-spinner C Raghu with the wicket of Badani (14).
In the morning, Sunil Joshi departed quickly, but Karnataka skipper Yere Goud, unbeaten on 58 overnight, added 99 runs for the eighth wicket with B Akhil before being bowled by medium-pacer Ganapathy for 85.
Yere Goud's knock came off 249 balls, inclusive of 15 fours, while Akhil's breezy 73 came off 101 balls, inclusive of 13 hits to the fence.
Ganapathy (3-61) and off-spinner R Ashwin (3-89) were the most successful bowlers for the visitors.
Scorecard
Karnataka (1st Innings): Overnight 309 for 6
Barrington Rowland c Prasanna b C Suresh 16
Robin Uthappa lbw V Yomahesh 159
Gaurav Dhiman c & b C Ganapathy 0
C Raghu b C Suresh 39
K T Yere Goud b Ganapathy 85
V S Thilak Naidu lbw b R Ashwin 13
Deepak Chougule c Prasanna b R Ashwin 3
Sunil Joshi lbw Yomahesh 1
B Akhil b Ganapathy 73
R Vinay Kumar c Anirudha b R. Ashwin 10
K P Appanna not out 27
Extras: (b-11, lb-2, nb-14) 27
Total: (all out in 125.1 overs) 426
Fall of wickets: 1-44, 2-45, 3-141, 4-241, 5-297, 6-301, 7-312, 8-411, 9-422.
Bowling: V Yomahesh 21-1-85-2, C Ganapathy 25-9-61-3, C Suresh 31-3-124-2, R Ashwin 30.1-12-89-3, S Badrinath 10-2-24-0, Hemang Badani 4-0-15-0, M Vijay 4-0-15-0.
Tamil Nadu (1st Innings):
S Anirudha run out 0
M Vijay batting 48
R Prasanna c Barrington Rowland b K P Appanna 39
S Badrinath lbw b Sunil Joshi 13
Hemang K Badani lbw b C Raghu 14
Extras: (nb-5) 5
Total: (For 4 wkts in 51.3 overs) 119
Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-78, 3-95, 4-119.
Bowling: R Vinay Kumar 9-4-24-0, B Akhil 5-2-19-0, Sunil B Joshi 19-11-27-1, Gaurav Dhiman 3-0-15-0, K P Appanna 10-3-30-1, C Raghu 5.3-2-4-1.