Karthik Raja facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Karthik Raja
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Karthik Raja in 2015
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| Background information | |
| Born | 29 June 1973 |
| Origin | Tamil Nadu, India |
| Occupation(s) | |
| Years active | 1992–present |
Karthik Raja (born on June 29, 1973) is a talented Indian music composer and singer. He lives in Chennai, India. He started his journey in film music as a composer with the Tamil movie Pandiyan in 1992. Since then, he has created music for many popular and well-loved films.
Contents
Personal Life
Karthik Raja is the oldest son of the famous music composer Illayaraja. Music runs in his family! His brother, Yuvan Shankar Raja, and his sister, Bhavatharini, are also music directors and singers in Tamil films. They have all worked together on some cool projects.
Karthik Raja went to school at St. Bede's School and Boston Matriculation higher secondary school in Chennai. He married Raja Rajeswari on June 8, 2000, in Tirupati, India.
Career in Music
Growing up in a family of musicians, Karthik Raja was always surrounded by different kinds of music. He learned Western classical music, focusing on the piano, from the Trinity School of Music. He also studied Carnatic music, which is a classical music style from South India, with teachers like T. V. Gopalakrishnan.
When he was a child, Karthik Raja often went with his father to recording studios. At just 13 years old, he played the keyboard for a song called Kannukkum from the movie Ninaikka Therinda Maname (1987). He continued to play keyboard for other films, including the soundtrack for Nayakan.
Karthik also helped his father with many recordings. He composed his very first song, "Pandianin Rajiyathil," for the movie Pandiyan in 1992. He also wrote "Ninaikindra" for the movie Athma in 1993. Around that time, he even composed background music for a TV series called Bible.
Karthik Raja became a full-time film composer in 1996 with the Tamil movie Alexander. Soon after, he worked on Manikkam. He then created many hit songs for movies like Ullaasam, Naam Iruvar Nammaku Iruvar, Kadhala Kadhala, and Dumm Dumm Dumm. He also composed music for Hindi films, starting with Grahan. For Grahan, he won the R.D. Burman award for the best new music talent.
Film Music and Soundtracks
Karthik Raja has composed music for many films over the years. Here is a list of some of the movies he has worked on:
| Year | Title | Language | Other notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Pandiyan | Tamil | composed one track "Pandiyanin Rajyathil" |
| 1993 | Uzhaippali | Tamil | Background Score only |
| Ponnumani | Tamil | Background Score; One song "Adiye Vanjikodi" | |
| Dharmaseelan | Tamil | Background score only | |
| Sakkarai Devan | Tamil | Background Score only | |
| Aathma | Tamil | One track "Ninaikindra Paathaiyil" | |
| 1994 | Amaidhi Padai | Tamil | Background Score only |
| Raasamagan | Tamil | Background Score only | |
| Kanmani | Tamil | Only one song "Netru Vandha Kaatru" | |
| 1996 | Enakkoru Magan Pirappan | Tamil | |
| Manikkam | Tamil | ||
| 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 |
| Ullaasam | Tamil | ||
| 1998 | Naam Iruvar Nammaku Iruvar | Tamil | |
| Kadhala Kadhala | Tamil | ||
| 2000 | Hoo Anthiya Uhoo Anthiya | Kannada | |
| 2001 | Vaanchinathan | Tamil | |
| Ullam Kollai Poguthae | Tamil | ||
| Dumm Dumm Dumm | Tamil | ||
| 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" |
| 16 December | Hindi | ||
| Album | Tamil | ||
| Three Roses | Tamil | ||
| 2003 | Pudhiya Geethai | Tamil | Background Score only |
| Inii | Tamil | Short feature film | |
| Ragasiyamai | Tamil | ||
| 2004 | Singara Chennai | Tamil | |
| Kudaikul Mazhai | Tamil | ||
| 2005 | Rightaa Thappaa | Tamil | |
| Neranja Manasu | Tamil | ||
| 2006 | Mercury Pookkal | Tamil | |
| Naalai | Tamil | ||
| Thullura Vayasu | Tamil | ||
| 2007 | Manathodu Mazhaikalam | Tamil | |
| Murugaa | Tamil | ||
| Oru Ponnu Oru Paiyan | Tamil | 25th Film | |
| Maa Madurai | Tamil | ||
| 2008 | Mukhbiir | Hindi | Two songs |
| Chakkara Viyugam | Tamil | ||
| 2009 | Achamundu Achamundu | Tamil | |
| Kudiyarasu | Tamil | ||
| Anything For You | English | ||
| 2010 | Zamana | Kannada | |
| Rettaisuzhi | Tamil | ||
| 2012 | Tuneega Tuneega | Telugu | |
| Veyilodu Vilayadu | Tamil | ||
| 2014 | Vaaraayo Vennilaave | Tamil | Film unreleased |
| Rajadhi Raja | Malayalam | Two songs | |
| Aranmanai | Tamil | Background Score only | |
| 2015 | Sagaptham | Tamil | |
| 2016 | Avan Aval | Tamil | |
| Dhilluku Dhuddu | Tamil | Background Score only | |
| 2017 | Pagadi Aattam | Tamil | |
| 2018 | Padaiveeran | Tamil | |
| 2021 | Aatkal Thevai | Tamil | |
| Maadathy | Tamil | ||
| Chidambaram Railway Gate | Tamil | ||
| 2023 | Web | Tamil | |
| Mathimaran | Tamil | ||
| 2024 | Bujji at Anupatti | Tamil | |
| TBA | Pisasu 2 | Tamil |
As a Playback Singer
Besides composing, Karthik Raja is also a playback singer. This means he sings songs that are used in movies, often for actors to lip-sync. Here are some of the songs he has sung:
| 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 | |
| Alexander | "Koothadichu" | himself | ||
| 1997 | Devathai | "Enge En Kaadhali" | Ilayaraja | |
| 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 Thappaa | "Ilamai Enbathu" | himself | |
| 2006 | Mercury Pookkal | "Solla Vaarthaigal" | himself | |
| Thullura Vayasu | "Mama Unakku" | himself | ||
| 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 |
Music Albums
Karthik Raja has also released music albums that are not part of films. Here are some of them:
| Year | Album | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Meri Jaan Hindustan | Hindi | One track |
| 2000 | Split Wide Open – Album | Hindi | One track |
| Kaathalai Gauravikkum Neram | Tamil | ||
| India Unlimited | Hindi | ||
| Haule Haule | Hindi | Three tracks | |
| 2012 | Srivilliputtur Andal | Tamil | 12 Tracks |
Television Appearances
Karthik Raja has also appeared on television shows.
| Year | Name of Television Show | Role | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Seniors 4 | Guest | Zee Tamil |
Awards and Recognition
Karthik Raja has received awards for his musical talent:
- 1998: He won the Filmfare RD Burman Award for New Music Talent for his work on the film Grahan.
- 2001: He received the Cinema Express Award for Best Music Director for the movie Dumm Dumm Dumm.
See also
In Spanish: Karthik Raja para niños
