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Dinesh Kanagaratnam Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 29, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth30 August 1981

Age41 Years

BirthplaceBadulla, Sri Lanka

ProfessionRapper

NationalitySri Lankan

Marital statusDivorced

SpouseJasmin

FamilySon - Abyaan; Father - Kanagaratnam Sinnasamy; Mother - Buwaneshwary Kanagaratnam; Sister - Dharshi Shatrugan Ram

Dinesh Kanagaratnam Biography

Sri Lankan rapper Aaryan Dinesh Kanagaratnam, known by his stage name ADK, rose from IT work to become a prominent voice in Tamil hip-hop. He has worked on

Early life and background

Aaryan Dinesh Kanagaratnam was born on 30 August 1981 in Badulla, Sri Lanka. He studied information technology in Trichy, Tamil Nadu, and later returned to Sri Lanka where he worked as a web application developer and taught IT courses. During this period he developed an interest in music while working in Colombo and began performing part time with local musicians.

Career

Kanagaratnam adopted the stage name ADK, formed from the initials of his full name, and began releasing music in the mid-2000s. His first recorded single was "Naan Sonnal" (2004), followed by a debut album titled Cross Culture in 2005. Over the next decade he built a profile in the Tamil music scene through collaborations, film work, and independent albums.

A significant early break came in 2008 when he contributed a rap section to the song "Aathichudi" for the Tamil film TN 07 AL 4777. In 2012 he worked with A.R. Rahman on the song "Magudi Magudi" from the film Kadal, a collaboration that heightened his visibility. That same year he released the double project of two Tamil hip-hop albums: Thamila, a 13-track album released on 3 July 2012, and Aaryan, released on 14 July 2012 with contributions from several other singers and artists.

Across the 2010s he continued working in film and independent music, lending his voice to songs such as "Oh Nanba" from the Rajinikanth film Lingaa (2014), and other tracks including "Showkali," "Thalli Pogadhey," "Vellipomaakey," and "Rockstar Robber." His music has been recognised at regional awards ceremonies; he won three Derana Music Video Awards for Best Sri Lankan Tamil Video in 2013, and received a VIMA Award for Best Dance Song in 2014 while also earning a VIMA nomination in the hip-hop category that year.

In 2019 Kanagaratnam co-founded the record label Rap Machines with rapper Sri Rascol. Under that label he has released a string of singles including "Roar" and "Patchai" (both 2021), and in 2022 songs such as "Rider Fighter," "Thuppuran," and "Paddapan." He has also contributed to international projects, appearing on the original soundtrack for the Disney+ Hotstar miniseries Ms. Marvel in 2022.

Public profile

ADK has collaborated with many well-known composers and artists in the Tamil music industry, including A.R. Rahman, Santhosh Narayanan, Anirudh Ravichander, and Harris Jayaraj. His growing profile led to verification of his social accounts after the success of some high-profile releases.

He is known for adopting Tamil rap in his work; he has said that exposure to Malaysian Tamil rappers inspired him to write in Tamil, despite initial difficulties reading and writing the language. Fitness is a regular part of his routine and he practices cardio. He also learned to cook Sri Lankan dishes from his mother. Personal habits noted publicly include a history of smoking, which he has said he quit in 2020 after many years, and occasional alcohol consumption.

Personal life

Kanagaratnam is a father and was married in 2009. His family details include a son, Abyaan, and parents Kanagaratnam Sinnasamy and Buwaneshwary Kanagaratnam. He has a sister named Dharshi Shatrugan Ram. Public information lists his marital status as divorced.

Latest updates

In 2019 he launched Rap Machines and has used the label to release multiple singles between 2021 and 2022. He appeared as a contestant on the Tamil reality television series Bigg Boss (season 6) in 2022. That same year he was featured on the OST for the TV miniseries Ms. Marvel, reflecting ongoing activity in both independent and mainstream projects.
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Recent Work

Roar

Single released under his Rap Machines label

2021
Patchai

Single released under his Rap Machines label

2021
Rider Fighter

Single released under his Rap Machines label

2022
Thuppuran

Single released under his Rap Machines label

2022
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Career Highlights

  1. Debut single "Naan Sonnal" (2004) and debut album Cross Culture (2005)
  2. Worked with A.R. Rahman on "Magudi Magudi" from Kadal (2012)
  3. Released two Tamil hip-hop albums in July 2012: Thamila and Aaryan
  4. Won three Derana Music Video Awards for Best Sri Lankan Tamil Video (2013)
  5. Won VIMA Award for Best Dance Song (2014) and nominated for Best Hip Hop Song (2014)
  6. Co-founded Rap Machines record label (2019)
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Dinesh Kanagaratnam born?

30 August 1981

What is Dinesh Kanagaratnam known for?

Rapper

What is Dinesh Kanagaratnam’s marital status?

Divorced

Who is Dinesh Kanagaratnam married to?

Jasmin