Mallikharjun is best known as a popular playback singer in the South Indian film industry and an energetic stage performer. He originally hails from Vizag and now lives in Chennai with his wife, Gopika Poornima (another popular playback singer). He started singing since the tender age of 9 and got first noticed with E TV's Paadhutha Teeyagaa program and starting from the year 2000, he participated in 200+ musical concerts for various social and cultural organizations in India.