Karthikeya Murthy

Karthikeya Murthy
Background information
Also known asKarthik Iyer, KM
Born (1985-05-16) 16 May 1985 (age 39)
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
GenresFilm score, world music
Occupation(s)Music composer, singer, songwriter, arranger
Instrument(s)Piano, keyboard
Years active2014–present
LabelsWarner Music, Saregama, Think Music
Websitekarthikeyamurthy.com

Karthikeya Murthy is an Indian composer, singer-songwriter and music producer. A BAFTA Breakthrough India Talent.[1] He made his debut in Tamil/Telugu bilingual movie Moone Moonu Varthai/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 player T.K.Murthy. His father T.K.Jayaraman was a music composer at All India Radio, 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 (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. 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 and music label Saregama. Post winning and recording an album in Rahman's studio, he went on to write music for ace director 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 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 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 directed by Madhumita - a bilingual (in Telugu Moodu Mukkallo Cheppalante). At the single launch show of the Moone Moonu Varthai, veteran singer 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.[9]

Karthikeya has composed title track & theme music for Vijay Television Tamil mythological serial Tamil Kadavul Murugan being aired from 2 October 2017 and actor Vijay Sethupathi starrer Namma Ooru Hero in Sun TV.

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 A non-fiction in collaboration with Ms. Victoria De La Vega[12]
2023 Thirumathi Nangai Tamil A non-fiction 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[15]
  • 2021 - Special Mention Original Score (Sweetness) - FICOCC [16]
  • 2021 - Honorable Mention Original Score (Sweetness) - SFAAF [17]

References

  1. ^ "'BAFTA Reveals Breakthrough India Talent, Applications For Next Round Delayed Due to COVID-19'". 10 June 2021 – via www.variety.com.
  2. ^ Dundoo, Sangeetha Devi (20 January 2015). "'You shouldn't delay an idea'". The Hindu – via www.thehindu.com.
  3. ^ a b Raghavan, Nikhil (24 January 2015). "Tunes from the third generation". The Hindu – via www.thehindu.com.
  4. ^ Ganesh, Deepa (29 January 2015). "Sparrow's monstrous talent". The Hindu – via www.thehindu.com.
  5. ^ Seshasayee, G. (25 April 2012). "High school musical". The Hindu – via www.thehindu.com.
  6. ^ Santhanam, Kausalya (30 October 2009). "More is expected from the veteran". The Hindu – via www.thehindu.com.
  7. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMsBbkUU2pQ>
  8. ^ "Thuvandha Yuddham - Short Films - Thuvandha Yuddham Short Films - Behindwoods.com". www.behindwoods.com.
  9. ^ http://www.kollytalk.com/cinenews/spb-compares-rookie-musicians-talents-r-rahman-207659.html
  10. ^ "Actor Apoorva to reunite with Ravichandran for 'Gowri Shankara'". newindianexpress.com.
  11. ^ "Karthikeya Murthy Discography". karthikeyamurthy.com.
  12. ^ "From meeting Phoebe Waller-Bridge to Colin Trevorrow, BAFTA Breakthrough India alumni share their experience with the program". mid-day.com. July 2023.
  13. ^ "Composer Karthikeya Murthy to bankroll docu on cis-trans couple - Indian Express". Cinema Express.
  14. ^ "Madhumitha to debut with Moodu Mukkallo Cheppalante - Times of India". The Times of India.
  15. ^ "Breakthrough India 2020/21 - BAFTA". BAFTA. 29 April 2021.
  16. ^ "Ficocc #44".
  17. ^ "Winners #37".