KK, the name that never needed any introduction, is a memory now. One of the most prolific and popular singers, KK, made many hearts swoon and many eyes teary with his soulful songs. Even to this day, KK’s voice sends goosebumps to many. KK’s die-hard fans refuse to believe that he is no more, as his songs have made him immortal.
Be it the high-pitched Tadap Tadap Ke or the foot-tapping number, Banda Ye Bindaas Hai, KK did complete justice to each one of his songs. KK had recorded many hit tracks in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, and Bengali. Born on August 23, 1968, the singer left for the heavenly abode on May 31, 2022, after suffering a massive heart attack.
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Born as Krishnakumar Kunnath into a Malayali family in Delhi, KK was doing a sales job before making his mark in the music industry. Yes, you read it right. Read on to learn how he ventured into music and why he was surprised with his first paycheck.
Before making his mark in the music industry, KK had taken the job of a salesman. Though he had a steady income, KK wasn’t happy with his monotonous job and decided to quit. It was with the support of his father and his wife, that KK had tried his luck in music. He bought a keyboard and started making jingles with Shibani Kashyap and Saibal Basu. Though KK was pursuing what he always wanted, he wanted to make it big.
Soon, he left the comforts of Delhi and jetted off to the city of dreams, Mumbai. In Mumbai, KK recorded his first jingle with Loy Mendonsa, which garnered a lot of attention. For the paycheck of his first jingle, when the music director, Ranjit Barot, had asked KK about his charges, the singer was quite sceptical as he wasn’t aware of the pay system in the industry, where he was totally new. Later, when Ranjit had flashed his five fingers, KK had assumed that he would be paid Rs. 500, but to his utter surprise, the paycheck had an amount of Rs. 5000.
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KK got his break as a playback singer with AR Rahman’s hit songs, Kalluri Saaley and Hello Doctor, and his first Bollywood song was Chod Aaye Hum Who Galiyan from the film, Maachis. However, it was the superhit track, Tadap Tadap Ke Is Dil Se from the film, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, that had made KK a huge sensation.
With songs like Aap Ki Dua, Yaaron, Pal, Koi Kahe Kehta Rahe, Sach Keh Raha Hai Deewana, Khuda Jaane and many more, KK made a permanent place in everyone’s heart. Although KK’s songs had made a huge impact on the audience, the singer had only won one award in a career of almost two decades for his song, Khuda Jaane from the film, Bachna Ae Haseeno. But KK had no qualms about it, as the singer had once stated that he had never desired to win an award.
It was on the fateful night of May 31, 2022, that KK breathed his last, leaving a vacuum in the life of his family, friends and fans. KK was performing at Sir Gurudas Mahavidyalaya Fest at Nazrul Mancha in Kolkata when he felt unwell. On his way to the hotel, the singer collapsed, and as he was rushed to CMRI hospital, he was declared dead.
On October 25, 2024, Google paid tribute to KK with an animated doodle to mark his Bollywood debut. It was exactly on October 25, 1996, that the singer lent his voice to the popular track, Chhod Aaye Hum, for the film, Maachis.
He left the world doing what he loved the most. He once said, ‘Once I am on stage, I forget everything and simply perform’.
Also Read: Himani Shivpuri's Tragic Life: Husband Died During DDLJ's Shoot, Offended Karan Johar, Ragged At NSD
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