Krishnamurthy, son of Sanskrit professor R. Vasudeva Sharma, was born on 14 August 1921 at Valavanur, Viluppuram district.
At the age of 21, Krishnamurthy became a research scholar at the botany laboratory of the University of Madras and worked under the father of Indian algology, Prof. M.O.P.
In 1961 he joined Central Salts and Marine Chemicals Research Institute (CSIR), Bhavnagar, Gujarat as a scientist.
After working in CSIR's laboratories for a decade (1961–1971) he returned to Tamil Nadu and served as professor of botany in various colleges.
When he retired in 1979, he was principal at Arignar Anna Government Arts College for Men Namakkal.