Krishnamurthy started his career as a probationary officer at the Bank of India (prior to nationalization) at the age of 19.
Born in Kottayam on 22 October 1915, Krishnamurthy was educated in Kottayam, University College Trivandrum, Presidency College, Madras and Hertford College, Oxford.
Krishnamurthy was an Indian politician who served as mayor of Madras from 1964 to 1965.