Karthik (singer)


Karthik is an Indian playback singer. Karthik started his professional career as a backing vocalist and has since been working as a playback singer. He has sung in multiple languages including Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Odia, Bengali and Hindi. The Amrita Film Awards honoured Karthik for his versatility in the industry which gave him opportunity to sing a variety of songs.

Biography

He was born into a Tamil family. Karthik developed an interest in music, early in his life. He is a trained Carnatic music vocalist and has been training since his school days. He was part of a college band and regularly participated in IIT Madras Fest Saarang. An ardent fan of A. R. Rahman, Karthik's dream was to meet Rahman and sing for him. Playback singer Srinivas, who collaborated often with Rahman was Karthik's close friend's cousin. Srinivas encouraged Karthik to look at singing as a career, which prompted Karthik to resume his singing lessons. One year later, Srinivas recommended Karthik's name to Rahman, who needed fresh voices for backing vocalists for a song from Pukar. Karthik eventually got the opportunity and recorded for the song. Having spent over an year being a backing vocalist, Karthik got his break during the re-recording of One 2 Ka 4. For the background score, A. R. Rahman wanted a high-pitched alap and he eventually chose Karthik to sing the alap. Soon after, Rahman asked him to sing the song "Nendhukittaen" from the film Star.
Karthik has sung a number of songs for many popular music directors, including A. R. Rahman, Ilaiyaraaja, Hamsalekha, Vidyasagar, Devi Sri Prasad, Harris Jeyaraj and Manisharma. Karthik has sung songs in several languages – Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam and Hindi. "Ennaku Oru Girlfriend" from the Tamil film Boys was one of the biggest hits of the year as was "Oru Maalai". His songs for Telugu films for Kotha Bangaru Lokam, Happy Days, "Badhulu Tochanai", "Manase Guvvai", "Oh Oh My Friend", "Yedhuta nlichindhi choodu", "Meghama", "Yevvaro" are very popular. His other popular songs include "Ava Enna" from the Vaaranam Aayiram, the title track from Unnale Unnale, "Behka" from Ghajini.
Karthik has sung Kannada songs and has many super hit chart buster songs to his credit like Ale Ale, Anuraaga Aralo Samaya, Thangaliyalli Theli Hode, Nee Chummu Chummu Munjaaneli, Manasaithu Ninna Myaale, Sum Sumne Yaako, Hosadondu hesaridu Nanange, Kanne Koodiruvaaga, Madhumasa, Nenapidu Nenapidu, Thanthaane Thannamthaane, Baruve Odi Odi Nalidu, Raktha Sambandhagala, Saluge Saluge, Mannige Mara Bhaarave and many more.
In 2010, he sang a track "Behene De", from Hindi film Raavan, which is widely considered as the biggest song in his career. The track, which topped music charts for many continuous weeks, also received rave critical reviews. Karthik also performed the Tamil and Telugu versions of the same song, titled "Usure Poghudhey" and "Usire Poyene" respectively. He also sang "Adhigora Choodu" in the movie Mirapakaay.
Karthik received wide appreciations for the theme song of 10th World Tamil Conference by Composer Rajan Somasundaram. Titled as Yathum Oore Anthem and released as a Music video and single, Karthik sang along with Bombay Jayashri and many other international artists to give the first ever musical form for this 2000 year old poetry.

Composing

He has composed music for a multi lingual Coca-Cola Advertisement and Prince Jewellery advertisements. He is the music director of Vasanthabalan's period film Aravaan and Srinivas Raga's Okkadine starring Nara Rohit and Nithya Menen in Telugu.
He has also released an album called "Music I Like". It is based on carnatic ragaas and it is a contemporary take on some well known keerthanas.
The Orchestration was done my Music director Sai Madhukar.
He also performed in Oxford engineering college Bengaluru.
He has also composed a new song 'Koova'.
He has also composed music for an upcoming film "Joshua "Directed by Gautham Vasudhev Menon

Filmography

As Composer

Dubbed and sang for the character Aladdin for its 2019 version.

Television

This is only a partial list; it is noteworthy that Karthik has sung over 3000 songs in Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, Malayalam and Hindi.

Tamil songs

Telugu songs

Kannada songs

Malayalam songs

Hindi songs

Bengali and Odia songs

Awards

YearCategoryLanguageSongFilm
2005Best Male Playback AwardTamilOru MaalaiGhajini
2007Best Male Playback Award TeluguArey ReyHappy Days
2008Best Male Playback AwardTeluguNijanga NenenaKotha Bangaru Lokam
2009Best Male Playback AwardTamilHasili FisiliAadhavan
2010Best Male Playback AwardTamilUsure PogutheyRaavanan
2016Best Male Playback Award TeluguYellipokey ShyamalaA Aa

YearCategorySongFilmLanguage
2003ITFA Best Male Playback AwardOru OorilKaakha KaakhaTamil
2007Nandi Award for Best Male Playback SingerOh..My FriendHappy DaysTelugu
2008CineMAA Awards – Best Male Playback SingerOh..My FriendHappy DaysTelugu
2009Tamil Isaiaruvi Music Awards 2010Hasili FisiliAadhavanTamil
2009Vijay Awards 2010Hasili FisiliAadhavanTamil
2010Asiavision Awards Best Male Playback SingerNeelathamaraNeelathaamaraMalayalam
2010Vijay Music Awards – Popular Singer MaleUsure PogutheyRaavananTamil
2010Tamil Nadu State Film Awards – Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Male Playback singerUsure PogutheyRaavananTamil
2010Mirchi Music Awards South – Best Male Playback SingerUsure PogutheyRaavananTamil
2011TSR TV9 National film awards – Best Playback Singer ChoosthunnaMoguduTelugu
2012Amrita Film Awards 2012 – Versatile Singervarious songsOrdinary, Spanish MasalaMalayalam
2012Ghantasala Puraskar Award – Young Achiever Award 2012
2012Mirchi Music Awards South – Best Male Playback SingerKaatrai KonjamNeethane En PonvasanthamTamil
2012Mirchi Music Awards South – Best Upcoming Music DirectorNila NilaAravaanTamil
2013Globus Style Awards 2013 – Stylish Singer AwardMalayalam
2013Kerala State Film Award for Best SingerJanmandarangalilOrissaMalayalam
2017Asiavision Awards Best Male Playback Singeree KaatuAdam JoanMalayalam
2018Mazhavil Music Awards -/Best Male SingerKadavathoru thoniPoomaramMalayalam