After completion of graduation in commerce from Mangalore University, Guru Kiran started performing in orchestras in and around Mangalore as a singer and a Keyboard Performer. He started off his musical career in 1994 as an assistant to the well known music director Sri V. Manohar well known music director and lyricist.
As Actor
He entered the film industry to be known as a famous actor and had even tried his luck acting in films. He did get a noticeable role in Nishkarsha directed by Sunil Kumar Desai, but luck was not with him as an actor.
As Music Director
He had a chance to be a music director in "A' directed by Upendra. Guru Kiran did his best, worked hard spent some sleepless nights to compose some fantastic songs for "A". The rest is history. His recent hit P. Vasu's directed Aaptha Mithra which again reinforced the power of Guru Kiran in the music composition. Jogi released in the year 2005 was a mile stone in the career of Guru Kiran. The film's album audio sales before the release of the film is an all time record in the Kannada film industry. This hit took him to Telugu Film Industry as music director for remake of same movie.
Won the 'Nava Yuva Prathibe' award for the best entry in the TV Industry for acting and Music(1994)
Won the 'Chitra Premigala Prashasthi' and 'Indira Priyadarshani Prashasthi' award for 'Pavithra' and 'Jeevan Chakra'–Kannada TV serials(1996).
Won the 'Udaya TV Award' for his debut in 'A'(1998).
Won the 'Aryabhata Award' for the title music of 'Balabeladingalu'(200).
Won the Filmfare Award for Best Music Director, for the Kannada film Chitra. It was also awarded the 'Sri Gandha Prashasthi'and 'Kannada Chitra Premigala Prashasthi'(2001).
Was awarded the 'Gandhinagar Prashasthi'& 'Suryodhaya Prashasthi 2002' for Best Music Director for the film "APPU"(2002).
Won the second Filmfare Award for Best Music Director, for the Kannada film Dhum(2002).
Won the Gandhinagar Award for Best Playback Singer for the song 'Maathadu Saaku' in the movie Kariya(2003)
Won third consecutive Filmfare award for the blockbuster hit Apthamithra(2004).
Won "Chitra Rasikara Sanga award"& "Sri Gandha award" for Best Music Director, for the same film(2005).
Won "Sri Rajiv Gandhi " memorial award for his excellency in music(2005).
Won "Sri Balindra award" for his excellency in music(2005). Won "Karavali Mutthu"award for his excellency in music(2005).
Won "Sri Gandha award" for Best Music Director, for the blockbuster hit – "Jogi"(2006).
Won "ETV Award" for his Best Music Direction, for the blockbuster hit – "Jogi(2006).
