Krishnakumar Kunnath, also known as KK, was a prominent Indian playback singer. He has recorded songs for films in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Bengali, Assamese, and Gujarati. He is regarded as one of his generation’s most varied singers. On the night of May 31, 2022, he died of a sudden illness at Nazrul Mancha in Kolkata while playing at a college fest.

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KK was raised in New Delhi by Malayali parents C. S. Menon and Kunnath Kanakavalli. He attended Mount St Mary’s School in Delhi and graduated from Kirori Mal College, Delhi University.

He is survived by his wife Jyothy, who he married in 1991, his son Nakul Krishna Kunnath, who sang “Masti” from his album Humsafar alongside him, and daughter Tamara Kunnath.

KK worked as a marketing professional for six months after graduating from Kirori Mal College. After a few years, he relocated to Mumbai in 1994.

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In 1994, he sent his demo tape to Louis Banks, Ranjit Barot, and Lesle Lewis in the hopes of getting a break in the music industry. He was approached by UTV and asked to sing a jingle for the Santogen Suiting commercial. Over the course of four years, he has sung over 3,500 jingles in 11 languages. In Mumbai, he got his first break singing jingles for UTV. He regards Lesle Lewis as his mentor because he gave him his first jingle to sing in Mumbai.

KK debuted as a playback vocalist in Kadir’s Kadhal Desam with A. R. Rahman’s hit songs “Kalluri Saaley” and “Hello Dr.” and then in AVM Productions’ musical film Minsara Kanavu with “Strawberry Kannae” (1997). Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam gave him his Bollywood break with “Tadap Tadap” (1999). Prior to this song, he had performed a brief rendition of “Chhod Aaye Hum” from Gulzar’s Maachis (1996).

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During the 1999 Cricket World Cup, he sung in the song “Josh of India” in support of the Indian cricket team. The Indian Cricket Team was featured in this song.

Kishore Kumar and music director R. Burman have had a big influence on KK. Some of KK’s favourite singers and bands include Michael Jackson, Billy Joel, Bryan Adams, and Led Zeppelin.

KK had previously remarked that it is not necessary for a singer’s face to be widely displayed, instead believing that “a singer must be heard,” which is why despite being a big name in the Indian entertainment industry, he wasn’t photographed much. He also has never had any formal musical training.

Sony Music had recently launched in India in 1999, and they were eager to sign a new performer. KK was chosen as the new artist, and he released a solo album titled Pal, with music composed by Lesle Lewis. Lewis of Colonial Cousins organised, wrote, and produced the record. Mehboob wrote the song’s lyrics.

The tracks “Aap Ki Dua,” “Yaaron,” and the title tune “Pal” quickly became popular among young people and topped the music charts. The song “Yaaron” became a friendship anthem. The album made history. It was KK’s debut album published under Sony Music, for which he received the Screen Award for best singer.

After an eight-year hiatus, KK released his second album, Humsafar, on January 22, 2008. Famous tracks from this album include “Aasman Ke,” “Dekho Na,” “Yeh Kahan Mil Gaye Hum,” and “Rain Bhai Kaari (Maajhi).” KK had also performed the English Rock Ballad “Cineraria.” “Humsafar,” the title track, combines English and Hindi lyrics. Humsafar contains ten songs, eight of which were written by KK. The other two tracks are from his previous album Pal.

KK has also sang songs for television shows such as Just Mohabbat, Shaka Laka Boom Boom, Kuch Jhuki Si Palkein, Hip Hip Hurray, Kkavyanjali, and Just Dance. He also co-wrote the theme song for the 2010 Star Parivaar Awards alongside Shreya Ghoshal. KK also appeared on television. He was invited to serve on the jury for the talent programme Fame Gurukul.

KK performed the song “Tanha Chala” for the Pakistani TV drama The Ghost, which aired on Hum TV in 2008. Farrukh Abid and Shoiab Farrukh composed the song, and Momina Duraid wrote the lyrics.

KK took part in MTV India’s most recent musical effort, Coke Studio. There, he performed a qawwali called “Chadta Suraj” with the Sabri Brothers, as well as a recomposed version of his excellent track “Tu Aashiqui Hai” from the film Jhankaar Beats. He also appeared in Aaj Tak Chanel’s ‘Surili Baat.’ He also appeared in Sony Mix TV Show and MTV Unplugged Season 3, which aired on MTV on January 11, 2014. In April, KK performed in the ‘Salaam Dubai 2014’ concert in Dubai. He has performed in Goa, Dubai, and Chennai, as well as Hong Kong.

On August 29, 2015, KK appeared in the television singing reality show Indian Idol Junior Season 2 to cheer up India’s emerging singers, performing “Khuda Jaane,” “Mera Pehla Pehla Pyaar,” “Make Some Noise for the Desi Boyz,” “Ajab Si,” “Sach Keh Raha Hai Deewana,” and many more songs with the junior idols, as well as “Tu Aashiqui Hai” with Vishal Dadlani, After ten years, he appeared as a judge and guest jury member on a singing reality show.

On September 13, 2015, KK debuted “Baaton Baaton Mein” on Sony Mix.