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Karthik Raja
Karthik Raja.png
Background information
Born (1973-06-29) 29 June 1973 (age 51)
Origin Tamil Nadu, India
Occupation(s)
Years active 1992–present

Karthik Raja (born 29 June 1973) is an Indian composer and playback singer based in Chennai. He made his debut as a film composer in the tamil film Pandiyan (1992) and went on to score music for many critically and commercially acclaimed feature films.

Personal life

Karthik Raja is the eldest son of music composer Illayaraja. His brother Yuvan Shankar Raja and sister Bhavatharini, also Tamil film music directors and playback singers, have worked with him on notable projects. He was schooled at St. Bede's School and Boston Matriculation higher secondary school in Chennai. On 8 June 2000, Karthik Raja married Raja Rajeshwari at Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India.

Career

Born to a family of musicians, Raja had exposure to various kinds of music from a very early age. He had his formal training in Western classical music from the Trinity School of Music, mainly in piano (affiliated with Jacob John). He also had training in Carnatic music from T. V. Gopalakrishnan and Malayalam composer, V. Dakshinamoorthy.

As a child, Raja often used to accompany his father to the recording studios. At the age of 13, Karthik Raja played the keyboard for the song Kannukkum from the Tamil movie Ninaikka Therinda Maname (1987). Many such outings followed including playing keyboard for the soundtrack of the movie Nayakan. Karthik also arranged many recordings for his father and composed his first song "Pandianin Rajiyathil" for the movie Pandiyan (1992) and "Ninaikindra" for the movie Athma (1993). Around this time, he also composed some background scores for the TV series Bible.

Raja debuted as a fully-fledged composer in 1996 through the Tamil movie Alexander, soon followed by Manikkam. Then came many chart-busters that included Ullaasam, Naam Iruvar Nammaku Iruvar, Kadhala Kadhala and Dumm Dumm Dumm among others. He also debuted in Hindi films with Grahan which won him the R.D. Burman award for the best new talent.

Television

Year Name of Television Show Role Network
2024 Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Seniors 4 Guest Zee Tamil

Discography

Film scores/Soundtracks

Year Title Language Other notes
1992 Pandiyan Tamil composed one track "Pandiyanin Rajyathil"
1993 Uzhaippali Tamil (Background Score only)
1993 Ponnumani Tamil (Background Score only) One song "Adiye Vanjikodi"
1993 Dharmaseelan Tamil (Background score only)
1993 Sakkarai Devan Tamil (Background Score only)
1993 Aathma Tamil One track "Ninaikindra Paathaiyil"
1994 Amaidhi Padai Tamil (Background Score only)
1994 Raasamagan Tamil (Background Score only)
1994 Kanmani Tamil Only one song "Netru Vandha Kaatru"
1996 Enakkoru Magan Pirappan Tamil
1996 Manikkam Tamil
1996 Alexander Tamil
1997 Grahan Hindi Audio released in 1997 but the film was released in 2001
Winner, Filmfare RD Burman Award for New Music Talent
1997 Ullaasam Tamil
1998 Naam Iruvar Nammaku Iruvar Tamil
1998 Kadhala Kadhala Tamil
2000 Hoo Anthiya Uhoo Anthiya Kannada
2001 Vaanchinathan Tamil
2001 Ullam Kollai Poguthae Tamil
2001 Dumm Dumm Dumm Tamil
2001 Hum Ho Gaye Aapke Hindi (Background Score Only)
2002 Mitr, My Friend English composed background score for "Give Me Hugs" and played keyboard for "Ehsaas"
2002 16 December Hindi
2002 Album Tamil
2002 Three Roses Tamil
2003 Pudhiya Geethai Tamil (Background Score only)
2003 Inii Tamil (Short feature film)
2003 Ragasiyamai Tamil
2004 Singara Chennai Tamil
2004 Kudaikul Mazhai Tamil
2005 Rightaa Thappaa Tamil
2005 Neranja Manasu Tamil
2006 Mercury Pookkal Tamil
2006 Naalai Tamil
2006 Thullura Vayasu Tamil
2007 Manathodu Mazhaikalam Tamil
2007 Murugaa Tamil
2007 Oru Ponnu Oru Paiyan Tamil 25th Film
2007 Maa Madurai Tamil
2008 Mukhbiir Hindi Two songs
2008 Chakkara Viyugam Tamil
2009 Achamundu Achamundu Tamil
2009 Kudiyarasu Tamil
2009 Anything For You English
2010 Zamana Kannada
2010 Rettaisuzhi Tamil
2012 Tuneega Tuneega Telugu
2012 Veyilodu Vilayadu Tamil
2014 Vaaraayo Vennilaave Tamil
2014 Rajadhi Raja Malayalam Two songs
2014 Aranmanai Tamil (Background Score only)
2014 Avan Aval Tamil
2015 Sagaptham Tamil
2016 Dhilluku Dhuddu Tamil (Background Score only)
2017 Pagadi Aattam Tamil
2018 Padaiveeran Tamil
2021 Aatkal Thevai Tamil
2021 Maadathy Tamil
2021 Chidhambaram Railway Gate Tamil
2023 Web Tamil
2023 Mathimaran Tamil
2024 Pisaasu II Tamil
2024 Bujji at Anupatti Tamil

As playback singer

Year Title Song Composer Other notes
1990 Anjali "Something Something", "Iravu Nilavu", "Motta Maadi", "Vaanam Namakku", "Anjali Anjali" Ilayaraja
1996 Enakkoru Magan Pirappan "Cham Cham" himself
1996 Alexander "Koothadichu" himself
1997 Devathai "Enge En Kaadhali" Ilayaraja
1997 Ullasam "Ullasam", "Vaalibam Vaazhthu" himself
1998 Kaathala Kaathala "Saravana Bhava" himself
2001 Ullam Kollai Poguthae "Kathavai Naan", "Adada Adada" himself
2003 Ragasiyamai "Kadhal Mannile","Oduthe" himself
2004 Neranja Manasu "Tharisa Kedakkura" himself
2005 Rightaa Thappa "Ilamai Enbathu" himself
2006 Mercury Pookkal "Solla Vaarthaigal" himself
2006 Thullura Vayasu "Mama Unakku" himself
2006 Manathodu Mazhaikalam "Pani Vizhum Kaalam" himself
2007 Oru Ponnu Oru Paiyan "Nenjil" himself
2008 Chakkara Viyugam "Padaithal Kadhal", "Yei Unnidam" himself
2009 Kudiyarasu "Idhu Enna" himself
2010 Goa "Yezhezhu Thalamuraikkum" Yuvan Shankar Raja
2012 Kazhugu "Aathadi Manasuthan" Yuvan Shankar Raja

Albums

Year Film Language Notes
1997 Meri Jaan Hindustan Hindi One track
2000 Split Wide Open – Album Hindi One track
2000 Kaathalai Gauravikkum Neram Tamil
2000 India Unlimited Hindi
2000 Haule Haule Hindi Three tracks

Awards

  • 1998: Filmfare RD Burman Award for New Music Talent – Grahan
  • 2001: Cinema Express Award for Best Music Director – Dumm Dumm Dumm

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Karthik Raja para niños

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