Karthik

Singer and composer Karthik has found enduring appeal in the film music world. That’s thanks both to his charming, youthful voice and a sonic palette that marries contemporary production and folk music—besides his parallel career in exploratory fusion pop. • Karthik began his career as a backing vocalist and went on to work with South Indian film music composers like A. R. Rahman, Harris Jayaraj and Vidyasagar. • He started out giving an affable vocal performance in “Nenthukitten”, on Rahman’s soundtrack for 2001 film Star. The duo would go on to work together on several hits, including the romantic song “Ale Ale” from Boys in 2003. • Karthik grew as a multilingual talent in the film music industry throughout the 2000s. Building on his versatility in carrying off Tamil and Hindi vocals on “Oru Maalai” and “Behka” from 2008’s Ghajini, he led the emphatic track “Usure Pogudhey” and its Hindi version “Behene De” from the film Raavanan in 2010. • Karthik also leads as vocalist in the fusion-pop supergroup Arka, alongside percussionist V. Selvaganesh, drummer Gino Banks, flautist Ravichandra Kulur, guitarist Santhosh Chandran and French bassist Mishko M’Ba.