Singer KK, who died at the age of 53 in Kolkata on Tuesday, was among the most popular playback singers in Bollywood.
From Chhod Aaye Hum in Maachis, to Pal and Tadap Tadap, KK has left behind a legacy of soulful songs that served as a soothing balm on aching hearts.
Chhod Aaye Hum Woh Galiyan for Gulzar’s Maachis (1996) was one of the first songs KK sung for a Hindi film. It is also one of the first songs about heartbreak and longing that the he has sung; he went on to sing many more such songs both independently and for movies. Tadap Tadap Ke Is Dil (Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam), Yaaron (Rockford), Sach Keh Raha Hai (Rehna Hai Terre Dil Mein) are some of his most memorable soulful songs that have remained popular among music lovers. He was among the most successful Indian singers of the 2000s, and has recorded over 700 songs. He has recorded songs in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Bengali, Assamese and Gujarati languages films.
Born on August 23, 1968, Krishnakumar Kunnath, popularly known as KK, was brought up in New Delhi. He was an alumnus of Delhi’s Mount St Mary’s School and graduated from Kirori Mal College, Delhi University. KK began his career by singing for advertisement jingles, and made his film debut with an A.R. Rahman soundtrack.
His popular songs included “Tadap Tadap” from Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999), “Dola Re Dola” from Devdas (2002), “Kya Mujhe Pyaar Hai” from Woh Lamhe… (2006), “Aankhon Mein Teri” from Om Shanti Om (2007), “Khuda Jane” from Bachna Ae Haseeno (2008), and “Tu Jo Mila” from Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015), among others.
