Karthik (singer)

Karthik was born into a Tamil family. Karthik developed an interest in music, early in his life. He is a trained Carnatic music vocalist and has been training since his school days. He was part of a college band and regularly participated in IIT Madras Fest Saarang. An ardent fan of A. R. Rahman, Karthik's dream was to meet Rahman and sing for him. Playback singer Srinivas, who collaborated often with Rahman was Karthik's close friend's cousin. Srinivas encouraged Karthik to look at singing as a career, which prompted Karthik to resume his singing lessons. One year later, Srinivas recommended Karthik's name to Rahman, who needed fresh voices for backing vocalists for a song from Pukar. Karthik eventually got the opportunity and recorded for the song. Having spent over a year being a backing vocalist, Karthik got his break during the Rahman's scoring of One 2 Ka 4. For the background score, A. R. Rahman wanted a high-pitched alap and he eventually chose Karthik to sing the alap. Soon after, Rahman asked him to sing the song "Nendhukittaen" from the film Star.

Karthik has sung a number of songs for many popular music directors, including A. R. Rahman, Ilaiyaraaja, Hamsalekha, Vidyasagar, Devi Sri Prasad, Harris Jayaraj and Manisharma, in several languages – Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam and Hindi. "Ennaku Oru Girlfriend" from the Tamil film Boys was one of the biggest hits of the year as was "Oru Maalai" (Ghajini; 2005). His songs for Telugu films for Kotha Bangaru Lokam (Nijanga Nenenaa), Happy Days (Arare Arare, Oh My Friend), "Badhulu Tochanai" (Mr.Perfect), "Manase Guvvai" (Naa Peru Shiva), "Oh Oh My Friend" (Oh My Friend), "Yedhuta nlichindhi choodu" (Vaana), "Meghama" (Journey), "Yevvaro" (Bodyguard) are very popular. His other popular songs include "Ava Enna" from the Vaaranam Aayiram (2009), the title track from Unnale Unnale, "Behka" from Ghajini.

Karthik has sung Kannada songs and has many super hit chart buster songs to his credit like Ale Ale, Anuraaga Aralo Samaya, Thangaliyalli Theli Hode, Nee Chummu Chummu Munjaaneli, Manasaithu Ninna Myaale, Sum Sumne Yaako, Hosadondu hesaridu Nanange, Kanne Koodiruvaaga, Madhumasa, Nenapidu Nenapidu, Thanthaane Thannamthaane, Baruve Odi Odi Nalidu, Raktha Sambandhagala, Saluge Saluge, Mannige Mara Bhaarave and many more.

In 2010, he sang a track "Behene De", from Hindi film Raavan, which is widely considered as the biggest song in his career.[2] The track, which topped music charts for many continuous weeks, also received rave critical reviews.[2] Karthik also performed the Tamil and Telugu versions of the same song, titled "Usure Poghudhey" and "Usire Poyene" respectively. He also sang "Adhigora Choodu" in the movie Mirapakaay.

Karthik received wide appreciations for the theme song of 10th World Tamil Conference by Composer Rajan Somasundaram from the album Sandham: Symphony Meets Classical Tamil. The album was featured in Amazon's Top#10 International Music albums in July 2020.[3]

He has composed music for a multi lingual Coca-Cola Advertisement (for Rajeev Menon featuring actor Vijay)[4] and Prince Jewellery advertisements. He is the music director of Vasanthabalan's period film Aravaan and Srinivas Raga's Okkadine starring Nara Rohit and Nithya Menen in Telugu.

He has also released an album called "Music I Like". It is based on carnatic ragaas and it is a contemporary take on some well known keerthanas.[5] The Orchestration was done by Music director Sai Madhukar. He also performed in Oxford engineering college Bengaluru.

He has also composed a new song 'Koova'.

He is the composer of the segment 'Guitar Kambi mele Nindru' directed by Gautham Vasudev Menon in the Netflix anthology movie Navarasa (2021)

He has also composed music for an upcoming film "Joshua "Directed by Gautham Vasudhev Menon

• He co-judges some Musical Shows Occasionally.
• 2016 He co-judges the Musical Show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Lil Champs with Vijay Prakash and Sujatha Mohan
• 2017-2018 He co-judges the Musical Show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Seniors with Vijay Prakash and Srinivas
• 2018 He co-judges the Musical Show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Lil Champs Season 2 with Vijay Prakash, Srinivas and Sujatha Mohan
• 2019 He co-judges the Musical Show Sun Singer Season 6 with Mano and Remya Nambesan

• Filmfare Awards South

• Other Awards

• Karthik at IMDb
• Listing of Karthik's songs in alphabetical order of albums
• Listing of Karthik's songs in alphabetical order of songs