# Karthik Raja

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 |
| 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 | Album | 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 |
| 2012 | Srivilliputtur Andal | Tamil | 12 Tracks |

## Awards

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