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MUSIC

V Harikrishna: The Bengaluru Composer Who Won Three Filmfares in a Row

Two decades as an assistant, then Jothe Jotheyali, Gaalipata and a run of Kannada chart-toppers.

QUICK ANSWER

  • V Harikrishna is a Kannada film composer born in Bengaluru in 1974 who has scored more than a hundred films.
  • He assisted Hamsalekha and V Ravichandran from 1987 and debuted as a composer with Jothe Jotheyali (2006).
  • He won three consecutive Filmfare awards for best music, for Gaalipata, Raaj The Showman and Jackie.
Tariq Sallam, founder of The City 24/7 Tariq Sallam October 26, 2026 • 2 min read
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A music composer's studio at night with a mixing desk, a monitor showing a sound wave, studio speakers, a harmonium, tabla, an acoustic guitar, sheet music and trophies on a shelf, overlooking the city skyline

V Harikrishna was born in Bengaluru on 5 November 1974.

“Thund Haikla Sahavasa was a huge hit.”

• Wikipedia, on his song from Drama (2012)

V Harikrishna is a Kannada film composer, playback singer, producer and director born in Bengaluru on 5 November 1974. He assisted composers including Hamsalekha and V Ravichandran from 1987, debuted as an independent composer with Jothe Jotheyali in 2006, and won three consecutive Filmfare awards for best music, for Gaalipata, Raaj The Showman and Jackie.

If a Kannada song has been stuck in your head since 2008, the odds are decent he wrote it. Here is the documented record.

Quick Information

Nineteen years as someone else's assistant, then an overnight success that only took two decades.

Born
5 November 1974, Bengaluru
Assistant from
1987, with Hamsalekha and V Ravichandran
Debut
Jothe Jotheyali (2006)
Filmfare
Gaalipata 2008; Raaj The Showman 2009; Jackie 2010
Label
D-Beats, founded 2013
Director
Yajamana (2019)
Known for
Gaalipata; Drama; Kaatera
Family
Married to singer Vani Harikrishna

Who Is V Harikrishna?

V Harikrishna is a Bengaluru-born composer who has scored more than a hundred Kannada films. He is closely associated with actor Darshan, scoring most of his films since Jothe Jotheyali, which was Darshan's first production.

How Did V Harikrishna Start?

He started as a programmer and assistant musician in 1987, working with composers including Hamsalekha and V Ravichandran, before going independent in 2006.

Which Awards Has V Harikrishna Won?

He won the Filmfare Award for best music three years running, for Gaalipata in 2008, Raaj The Showman in 2009 and Jackie in 2010.

  • 2008 Gaalipata
  • 2009 Raaj The Showman
  • 2010 Jackie

Has V Harikrishna Directed a Film?

Yes. He made his directing debut with Yajamana in 2019. He also runs D-Beats, the audio label he started in 2013 with the film Bulbul.

A LESSER-KNOWN FACT

His wife Vani Harikrishna is a state award-winning playback singer and granddaughter of the composer G K Venkatesh.

Why Does V. Harikrishna Belong in People of Bangalore?

THEIR BANGALORE CONNECTION

He was born in Bengaluru and built his career in the city's Kannada film industry.

HOW I PUT THIS TOGETHER

I haven't interviewed V Harikrishna for this piece. It's pieced together from online research: published interviews, news reports, books and official records, cross-checked against each other. If you know V Harikrishna and spot something I've got wrong, tap the WhatsApp icon at the bottom right and tell me, and I'll fix it.

FAQs

Who is V Harikrishna?

A Bengaluru-born Kannada film composer, singer, producer and director.

Which films did V Harikrishna compose for?

Gaalipata, Drama, Jackie, Raaj The Showman and Kaatera, among many others.

Who is V Harikrishna's wife?

The playback singer Vani Harikrishna.

Which Harikrishna Song Is Yours?

Tell me the one you still play on repeat. Click the WhatsApp icon at the bottom right of your screen and tell me. That is also the easiest way to reach The City 24/7 about anything at all, including nominating someone for People of Bangalore.

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Same city, new stories, always.

Tariq Sallam, founder of The City 24/7

Tariq Sallam

FOUNDER, THE CITY 24/7

placeBangalore calendar_monthSince 1991 groupsPeople. Places. Possibilities.

Tariq Sallam is the founder of The City 24/7, a platform dedicated to celebrating everything Bangalore. Having lived in the city since 1991, he has witnessed its remarkable journey from a laid-back Garden City to one of India’s most dynamic and innovative cities.

Passionate about its people, businesses, neighbourhoods, food, culture and hidden gems, Tariq believes every corner of Bangalore has a story worth telling. When he’s not writing or interviewing inspiring Bangaloreans, you’ll find him exploring the city. And through The City 24/7, he invites you to discover Bangalore with him, one story at a time.

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Tariq Sallam, founder of The City 24/7, with the Bengaluru skyline
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