# Karthikeya Murthy

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Indian composer

Karthikeya Murthy Background information Also known as Karthik Iyer, KM Born (1985-05-16) 16 May 1985 (age 41) Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India Genres Film score, world music Occupations Music composer, singer, songwriter, arranger Instruments Piano, keyboard Years active 2014–present Labels Warner Music, Saregama, Think Music Website karthikeyamurthy.com

Musical artist

**Karthikeya Murthy** is an Indian composer, singer-songwriter and music producer. A [BAFTA](/source/BAFTA) Breakthrough India Talent.[1] He made his debut in Tamil/Telugu bilingual movie [Moone Moonu Varthai](/source/Moone_Moonu_Varthai)/[Moodu Mukkallo Cheppalante](/source/Moodu_Mukkallo_Cheppalante) (2015).[2] He is known for his score in the movie KD (a) Karuppudurai.

## Personal life

Karthikeya was trained in Carnatic Classical Music by Chengalpet Ranganathan, DKJ.Sukanya, Premalatha and in Western Classical music by Abdul Sattar. Karthikeya is the grandson of ace [mridangam](/source/Mridangam) player [T.K.Murthy](/source/T.K.Murthy). His father T.K.Jayaraman was a music composer at [All India Radio](/source/All_India_Radio), [Chennai](/source/Chennai). He is the 7th generation musician in his family with his musical roots tracing to Bowdeeshwara Bagavathar (Carnatic Singer), Thanu Bhagavathar (Carnatic Singer), Subramaniya Bhagavathar (Carnatic Singer), Thanu Subramaniya Bhagavathar (Violinist), [Dr.T.K.Murthy](/source/T.K.Murthy) ([mridangam](/source/Mridangam)) and T.K.Jayaraman (Music Composer). His early ancestors were court musicians. [3][4]

## Career

He began his career in music by forming a band in school known as Pro-teens which was later renamed to Madras Tunes for a band hunt competition in [Sun TV](/source/Sun_TV_(India)). He then ventured into short films, ad films, documentaries as an independent composer before getting into films. As a part of Madras Tunes he won the band hunt show "Oh La La La" conducted by renowned music director [A. R. Rahman](/source/A._R._Rahman) and music label [Saregama](/source/Saregama). Post winning and recording an album in Rahman's studio, he went on to write music for ace director [K.Balachander](/source/K.Balachander)'s last stage show "Oru Koodai Paasam" under the stage name "Karthik Iyer". The music of the show was well appreciated with Hindu reviewing the music as "lilting and one of the good production values". He further did more theater works including the one for Dancer [Dhananjayans](/source/Dhananjayans) and Olliyum Oliyum production's INSTINCT. Also he worked on several short films including the critically acclaimed Thuvandha Yuddham, Jagathinai Azhithidivom to name a few.[3][5][6][7][8]

Acclaimed producer/singer/actor [S.P.Charan](/source/S._P._B._Charan) met Karthikeya while recording a song for a college project that led him to rope Karthikeya as a composer in his production [Moone Moonu Varthai](/source/Moone_Moonu_Varthai) directed by [Madhumita](/source/Madhumitha_(director)) - a bilingual (in Telugu [Moodu Mukkallo Cheppalante](/source/Moodu_Mukkallo_Cheppalante)). At the single launch show of the Moone Moonu Varthai, veteran singer [S. P. Balasubrahmanyam](/source/S._P._Balasubrahmanyam) for the very first time performed a song from the movie with Karthikeya on Piano during which he compared his music-composing prowess to that of Oscar-winning music director [A. R. Rahman](/source/A._R._Rahman).[9]

Karthikeya has composed title track & theme music for Vijay Television Tamil mythological serial [Tamil Kadavul Murugan](/source/Tamil_Kadavul_Murugan) being aired from 2 October 2017 and actor [Vijay Sethupathi](/source/Vijay_Sethupathi) starrer [Namma Ooru Hero](/source/Namma_Ooru_Hero) in [Sun TV](/source/Sun_TV_(India)).

## Discography

**MOVIES**

Year Title Language Notes 2023 Gowri Shankara Kannada Produced by N S Rajkumar[10] 2023 Untitled Hindi Remake of a Malayalam Feature film [11] 2023 La Mirada Oculata Spanish In collaboration with Ms. Victoria De La Vega[12] 2023 Amma's Pride Tamil Based on first legal transgender marriage in TN[13] 2019 K.D. Tamil 2017 Moodu Mukkallo Cheppalante Telugu[14] 2015 Moone Moonu Varthai Tamil

**TV SERIES**

Year Title Language Channel Notes 2022 Putham Puthu Kaalai - Vidiyaadhaa - Mouname Paarvaiyaai Tamil Amazon Prime 2021 LOL Enga Siri Paapom Tamil Amazon Prime starring Vivek 2019 Namma Ooru Hero Tamil Sun TV starring Vijay Sethupathi 2017 Tamil Kadavul Murugan Tamil Star Vijay

**THEATRE WORKS**

Year Title Language Notes 2011 The Instinct Tamil 2010 Oru Koodai Paasam Tamil Directed by K.Balachander 2009 Folk Dance of India Multi Directed by Dhananjayans

**NOTABLE SINGLES**

Title Publisher Notes Yaar Veetilo Doopaadoo Feat. Karky (lyrics) and Andrea Jermiah Jigulu Jigulu Star Vijay Country Side Put Chutney Music Feat. Madras Tunes Neeye Neeye Trend Music A capella Put Chutney Music Feat. Santhosh Narayanan Songs Roots of Jazz Put Chutney Music Feat. Madras Tunes Naatai Put Chutney Music Feat. Madras Tunes

## Awards & Recognitions

- 2021 - BAFTA Breakthrough (India) Honoree - [BAFTA](/source/BAFTA)[15]

- 2021 - Special Mention Original Score (Sweetness) - FICOCC [16]

- 2021 - Honorable Mention Original Score (Sweetness) - SFAAF [17]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["'BAFTA Reveals Breakthrough India Talent, Applications For Next Round Delayed Due to COVID-19'"](https://variety.com/2021/film/news/bafta-breakthrough-india-1234993313/). 10 June 2021 – via www.variety.com.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Dundoo, Sangeetha Devi (20 January 2015). ["'You shouldn't delay an idea'"](https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/you-shouldnt-delay-an-idea/article6805208.ece). *The Hindu* – via www.thehindu.com.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-auto_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-auto_3-1) Raghavan, Nikhil (24 January 2015). ["Tunes from the third generation"](https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/tunes-from-the-third-generation/article6818545.ece). *The Hindu* – via www.thehindu.com.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Ganesh, Deepa (29 January 2015). ["Sparrow's monstrous talent"](https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/sparrows-monstrous-talent/article6834536.ece). *The Hindu* – via www.thehindu.com.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Seshasayee, G. (25 April 2012). ["High school musical"](https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/nxg/high-school-musical/article3352547.ece). *The Hindu* – via www.thehindu.com.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Santhanam, Kausalya (30 October 2009). ["More is expected from the veteran"](https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/theatre/More-is-expected-from-the-veteran/article16889353.ece). *The Hindu* – via www.thehindu.com.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** [> "- YouTube"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMsBbkUU2pQ). *www.youtube.com*. Retrieved 18 July 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Thuvandha Yuddham - Short Films - Thuvandha Yuddham Short Films - Behindwoods.com"](http://www.behindwoods.com/features/visitors-2/short-film/apr-12-03/thuvandha-yuddham-18-04-12.html). *www.behindwoods.com*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["SPB compares rookie musician's talents to that of A.R. Rahman - KOLLY TALK"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150113031948/http://www.kollytalk.com:80/cinenews/spb-compares-rookie-musicians-talents-r-rahman-207659.html). Archived from [the original](http://www.kollytalk.com/cinenews/spb-compares-rookie-musicians-talents-r-rahman-207659.html) on 13 January 2015. Retrieved 18 July 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Actor Apoorva to reunite with Ravichandran for 'Gowri Shankara'"](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/kannada/2023/jan/17/actorapoorva-to-reunite-with-ravichandran-for-gowri-shankara-2538437.html). *newindianexpress.com*. 17 January 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Karthikeya Murthy Discography"](https://web.archive.org/web/20230418065643/https://karthikeyamurthy.com/discography/). *karthikeyamurthy.com*. Archived from [the original](https://karthikeyamurthy.com/discography/) on 18 April 2023. Retrieved 18 April 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["From meeting Phoebe Waller-Bridge to Colin Trevorrow, BAFTA Breakthrough India alumni share their experience with the program"](https://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/hollywood-news/article/from-meeting-phoebe-waller-bridge-to-colin-trevorrow-bafta-breakthrough-india-alumni-share-their-experience-with-the-program-23295367). *mid-day.com*. July 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Composer Karthikeya Murthy to bankroll docu on cis-trans couple - Indian Express"](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/news/2021/jun/30/composer-karthikeya-murthy-to-bankroll-docu-on-cis-trans-couple-25233.html). *Cinema Express*. 30 June 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["Madhumitha to debut with Moodu Mukkallo Cheppalante - Times of India"](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/Madhumitha-to-debut-with-Moodu-Mukkallo-Cheppalante/articleshow/44992858.cms). *The Times of India*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["Breakthrough India 2020/21 - BAFTA"](https://www.bafta.org/supporting-talent/breakthrough/breakthrough-india-2020#karthikeya-murthy--composer). *BAFTA*. 29 April 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["Ficocc #44"](https://www.ficocc.com/ficocc-44).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["Winners #37"](https://scafafest.wixsite.com/sfaaf/winners-37).

## External links

- [Karthikeya Murthy](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7046175/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier))

Authority control databases: Artists MusicBrainz

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Karthikeya Murthy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karthikeya_Murthy) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karthikeya_Murthy?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.