Karthik Raja


Karthik Raja is an India composer based in Chennai, India. He made his debut as film composer in the Tamil film Pandiyan and went on to score music for many critically and commercially acclaimed feature films.

Personal life

Karthik Raja is the eldest son of musician Maestro Ilaiyaraaja. His brother Yuvan Shankar Raja and sister Bhavatharini, who are also Tamil film music directors and playback singers, have worked with him on notable projects. He did his schooling at St. Bede's School and Boston Matriculation higher secondary school in Chennai and graduated from Loyola College, Chennai. On 8 June 2000, Karthik Raja married Raja Rajeswari at Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India.

Career

Born to a family of musicians, he had exposure to various kinds of music at a very early age. He had his formal training in Western classical music from the Trinity School of Music, mainly in piano. He also had training in Carnatic music from T. V. Gopalakrishnan and Malayalam composer V. Dakshinamoorthy.
As a child, he 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 Manam. 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 and "Ninaikindra" for the movie Athma. Around this time, he also composed some background scores for the TV series Bible.
He debuted as a full-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.

Discography

Film scores/Soundtracks

YearTitleLanguageOther notes
1992PandiyanTamilOne track "Pandiyanin Rajyathil"
1993UzhaippaliTamil
1993PonnumaniTamil One song "Adiye Vanjikodi"
1993DharmaseelanTamil
1993Sakkarai DevanTamil
1993AathmaTamilOne track "Ninaikindra Paathaiyil"
1994Amaidhi PadaiTamil
1994RaasamaganTamil
1996ManikkamTamil
1996AlexanderTamil-
1996Enakkoru Magan PirappanTamil
1997GrahanHindiWinner, Filmfare RD Burman Award for New Music Talent
1997UllaasamTamil
1998Naam Iruvar Nammaku IruvarTamil
1998Kadhala KadhalaTamil
2000Hoo Anthiya Uhoo AnthiyaKannada
2001VaanchinathanTamil
2001Ullam Kollai PoguthaeTamil
2001Dumm Dumm DummTamil
2001Hum Ho Gaye AapkeHindi
2001Mitr, My FriendEnglish
200216 DecemberHindi
2002AlbumTamil
2002Three RosesTamil
2003Pudhiya GeethaiTamil
2003IniiTamil
2003RagasiyamaiTamil
2004Singara ChennaiTamil
2004Kudaikul MazhaiTamil
2005Rightaa ThappaaTamil
2005Neranja ManasuTamil
2006Mercury PookkalTamil
2006NaalaiTamil
2006Thullura VayasuTamil
2007Manathodu MazhaikalamTamil
2007MurugaaTamil
2007Oru Ponnu Oru PaiyanTamil
2007Maa MaduraiTamil
2008MukhbiirHindi
2008Chakkara ViyugamTamil
2009Achamundu AchamunduTamil
2009KudiyarasuTamil
2009Anything For YouEnglish
2010ZamanaKannada
2010RettaisuzhiTamil
2012Tuneega TuneegaTelugu
2012Veyilodu VilayaduTamil
2014Vaaraayo VennilaaveTamil
2014Rajadhi RajaMalayalam
2014AranmanaiTamil
2014Avan AvalTamil
2015SagapthamTamil
2016Dhilluku DhudduTamil
2017Pagadi AattamTamil
2018PadaiveeranTamil
2019MaamanithanTamil

Albums

YearFilmLanguageNotes
1997Meri Jaan HindustanHindiOne track
2000Split Wide Open – AlbumHindiOne track
2000Kaathalai Gauravikkum NeramTamil
2000India UnlimitedHindi
2000Haule HauleHindiThree tracks

Awards