Obituary For KK: A Pure Soul, A Peerless Singer

2022 has not begun with the right note for music lovers. The world of music had survived its biggest shock with the passing away of Lata Mangeshkar. To make matters worse, the demise of KK comes as an inconsolable aftershock. His death was unexpected. He was performing on the Nazrul Manch for a concert by Gurudas College in Kolkata, when he complained of uneasiness. He was on his way to the CMRI hospital when he breathed his last on May 31, 2022.

Krishna Kumar Kunnath popularly known as KK has regaled generations for almost three decades. Born in 1968, he has lent his voice to a host of regional languages alongside hit Bollywood numbers. KK’s presence preceded the meteoric rise of Arijit Singh and continued alongside him. His voice was truly timeless, ageless. For instance, his song “Yaaron, dosti” is still an anthem for friendship. “Khuda jaane“, “Dil ibadat“, “O meri jaan“, “Sang hoon tere” and “Ankhon mein teri” are songs that every romantic heart loves to croon. Then there are songs such as “Tadap, tadap” and “Sach keh raha hai deewana” which complement a heartbreak. KK has a song for every occasion. The earthen touch of his voice evokes nostalgia, melancholy, love and longing.

On a personal level, I instantly connect to KK and his voice. He is almost a boy next door, who understands your emotions. This incident of 2009 is ingrained in my memory. We were about to be given our farewell from New Hostel in Ravenshaw University. I went for a quick shower to freshen myself before the proceedings. I was in the bathroom when the music system played “Pal”. I literally cried there. Each word of that song, in KK’s voice, created a world I could relate to. That’s the power of KK’s voice which is garbed with true feelings.

Apart from his mellifluous voice, KK is known for his humility. His interviews exemplify his nature. He never had the swag that we usually see in singers these days after one hit song. He was nevertheless a hit-machine. His combination with Pritam arguably produced the finest blend of music. His songs in Woh Lamhe, Life in a Metro, Jannat, Jannat 2 and Gangster reveal their collective excellence.

Pritam, in one of his interviews, had shared that he only calls singers like KK and Sonu Nigam when he can assure them of their inclusion. That is probably the reason that we didn’t see more of KK in the albums composed by Pritam of late.

Vishal Dadlani reminisces KK as the “voice of truth, of purity, of kindness and a truly limitless heart.” Shreya Ghoshal, on the other hand, calls him “one of the most humble, gentle, pure human being” to have crossed her life. Undoubtedly, KK was a favourite among his peers as well.

“There is a certain energy an artiste gets when he or she is on stage. No matter what one’s condition is, once I am on stage, I forget everything and simply perform,” KK had written on his official website, The Mesmerizer.

KK was a live wire in his stage shows. He danced and sang with unbridled zest, like a teenager, defying his age, which had now gone into the fifties. He was full of energy. The videos of his last show at Nazrul Manch in Kolkata have surfaced online. He carried the infectious energy, so typical of him, which mesmerised the audience with ease. In fact, he involved the audience by prompting them to sing with him. Each time he extended the mike, they roared in unison: a chorus, a cacophony. It was almost like a Karaoke.

Unfortunately, the two Ks in ‘Karaoke’ have been silenced now. Isn’t it an irony that the last song which KK sung for his audience was “Hum rahein ya na rahein yaad ayenge yeh pal”?