Singer KK passed away today (31st May) after suffering a heart attack in Calcutta soon after performing at a concert. He was 53 years old.
The singer reportedly collapsed after reaching his hotel room following the concert at Nazrul Manch in Calcutta. He was rushed to the Calcutta Medical Research Institute at around 10.30 p.m. but was declared brought dead.
The singer-composer whose real name was Krishnakumar Kunnath, released his first album, Pal, in 1999. As Leslie Lewis had composed the music for Pal, KK considered Leslie as his mentor. He released his second album, Humsafar, after nine years. Several songs from Humsafar are also hits. Among the hit numbers he lent his voice to in Hindi films were his first full-fledged Hindi film song, Tadap tadap from Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Dus bahane (Dus), Aankhon mein teri (Om Shanti Om), Khuda jaane (Bachna Ae Haseeno), Tu hee meri shab hai (Gangster), Zindagi do pal ki (Kites) and Tune maari entriyaan (Gunday). He started his career as a playback singer with the Tamil film Kadhal Desam in which he rendered songs under the baton of A.R. Rahman. He had also sung a small portion of the Chhod aaye hum woh galiyaan from Maachis.