M. L. R. Karthikeyan

MLR Karthikeyan is an Indian play back singer. He has lent his voice as a singer in tamil, telugu, kannada films. He has sung over 50 songs both as back up vocals and main singer.

Personal life

Karthikeyan was born on November 30, 1982 in Chennai to a Brahmin couple. His interest in singing began when he was three-years-old. He used to sing during the Margazhi season and dreamed of becoming a playback singer when he was a child.

Career

M.L.R.Karthikeyan studied at the Sir.M.Venkata Subba Rao school in T. Nagar, Chennai. During his schooling he was inspired by Devi Sri Prasad to sing in inter-school cultural competitions. He was later one of the main singers in a school troop which took part in many competitions. M.L.R.Karthikeyan considers this experience to have been invaluable as it gave him lot of confidence.

He started professionally as a stage singer at the age of 14 for a popular music band in Chennai called Sridhar's Navaraag.

Play back singing

At the age of 20, M.L.R.Karthikeyan became a back up vocalist and started singing for recordings in multi language. Prasad introduced him in the film Aaru, in which he sang in both Tamil and Telugu. Later, he joined music director Deva and sang solos in the Tamil films such as Vyabaari. He also met D. Imman, for whom he sang the hit song Vaada Vaada Paiyya from the film Katcheri Arambam. In his compositions Karthikeyan has sung few more songs in films Vaada – Agni Kunjondru Kanden, Oorambo, Marudhamalai – marudhamalai marudhamalai. He had an opportunity to join Bharadwaj who gave him another break through with the song Engey engey in the actor Ajith film Asal. Karthikeyan continued to work with Bharadwaj with songs such as Nandhi – Vedha gosham muzhangave. Irandu mugam – Yaanai Katti Poradikkum. M.L.R.Karthikeyan performed Satta chada chada for the Tamil film Aanmai thaverel composed by music director Mariya Manohar.

His breakthrough was singing the song Kannitheevu ponna in the hit film Yuddham Sei, directed by Mysskin. This song became a hit kuthu number.

M.L.R.Karthikeyan had a great opportunity to sing for "isai gnani" Ilaiyaraaja, the song hey Raama Rajyam in Telugu for the film Gaayam 2. Subsequently he also sang for one more India’s legendary music director and Oscar “naayagan” A. R. Rahman. His first song for A.R Rahman was a director Shankar’s film, Super Star Rajni Kanth starrer movie “Enthiran – the Robot” where M.L.R.Karthikeyan sang backup vocal in the song Arima Arima.

He has sung songs in Kannada movies for V. Harikrishna in the film Raam, the song ready ready. He sang a melody number in the film Matthe Mungaaru – Kangalu Kanlidhe for music director X-Paulraj.

Discography

External links

• Karthikeyan's Songs