K. M. Radha Krishnan was born in Wanaparthy and studied there until year three. He then went to Coimbatore and returned after a few years to complete schooling in Gadwal. His father K. V Mohan, who worked for All India Radio since 1973, was Radha Krishnan's inspiration to become a musician. His father used to sing light music and was also a stage actor, performing in over 500 stage shows.[6] Inspired by his father, Radha Krishnan learned Hindustani classical music with the help of Chaganti Lakshmi for a couple of years. He settled in Hyderabad, where he completed diploma at Hyderabad Music College and trained as a music teacher.[7] He learned western classical music from Arnold for a couple of years and Carnatic classical music from Vengamamba. He conducted research on blending Hindustani music.[8]
Early career
K. M. Radha Krishnan aspired to become a singer like S. P. Balasubrahmanyam during his youth. He practiced and improvised his father's music. After two years, he started analyzing songs and realized he could be a composer. While seeking opportunities as a music director in the film industry, he composed the background music for Sunil Kumar Reddy's film Silence Please. After a two-year gap, he scored music for a children's film called ‘Hero’.[4]
