Kitty

Biography

Raja Krishnamoorthy, popularly known as Kitty, is an Indian director, screenwriter, actor, and human resources professional. He has primarily worked in the Tamil film industry, while also contributing to Telugu, Malayalam, and Hindi cinema. Recognized for his versatile performances and professional achievements outside cinema, Kitty has balanced a unique dual career in films and corporate leadership.

Early Life and Education

Kitty was born and brought up in Bombay (now Mumbai). During his college years, he was actively involved in student leadership and served as the Union General Secretary. Encouraged by his college principal to pursue higher studies in management, he enrolled at the prestigious Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies, where he completed his master’s degree in management studies in 1975.

He began his corporate career as a Management Trainee and Personnel Officer at Mukund Iron & Steel. Over time, he held key human resources positions at ITC Welcome Group and later became General Manager (Human Resources) at Enfield India Limited.

Transition to Cinema

While working in Chennai as a manager at Chola Hotel, he earned the nickname “Chola” Krishnamurthy. During this period, he wrote short stories for Saavi magazine, which helped him develop friendships with actor Kamal Haasan and director Mani Ratnam.

Mani Ratnam invited him to work as an assistant director on Nayakan, where Kitty also made his acting debut in a small role. The film became a landmark in Indian cinema and marked the beginning of his film career.

He went on to portray negative and supporting roles in films such as Soora Samharam and Sathya, both starring Kamal Haasan.

Directorial Work

In 1993, Kitty directed the Tamil film Dasarathan, further establishing his creative presence in the industry. Alongside acting and directing, he also contributed as a screenwriter.

Over the years, he became known for portraying dignified, authoritative, and sometimes antagonistic characters in Tamil cinema.

Corporate and HR Career

Parallel to his film journey, Kitty maintained an impressive career in human resources and management consulting. Between 2000 and 2002, he worked with Polaris Software Lab Ltd. as a consultant and President of Human Resources. He later led the Consulting and Training Division at ProLease India Pvt. Ltd., part of the Interpro Group based in Washington, DC.

He currently heads the Consulting and Training Division and directs the HRD function at Talent Maximus India Ltd., continuing his involvement in organizational development and leadership training.

Other Works and Political Career

Apart from cinema and corporate leadership, Kitty is also an author. He wrote the book Rajini Punchtantra: Business and Life Management, drawing inspiration from actor Rajinikanth’s life lessons and leadership qualities.

In 2016, he contested the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election from the Velachery constituency as an Independent candidate but was unsuccessful.