The boy was in his second standard class when he first appeared on stage for a live performance, and that was the beginning of his life as a performer.
Later, during the first half of the '90s decade, he used to perform live songs in a restaurant, which is where he met the living legend of singing in the subcontinent, Mr Hari Haran. He told the boy, “Yes, what you are doing is enough for your beginning, but your luck lies in Mumbai! So come there as soon as possible...”
The name of that boy is Krishnakumar Kunnath, and if you cannot identify the person from this name, then remember his professional name, KK.
Yes, KK, the singer of thousands of jingles, hundreds of songs that were the major part of life during the childhood and teenage years of the '90s borns.
The legendary singer started his career as a marketing executive, but as soon as he could realise his true passion, he booked his tickets to Mumbai. That was the year 1994, and at that time, his wife was expecting a baby, but responsibilities could not stop him from running after his goals.
At the very beginning of his musical career, he used to sing jingles in advertisements. In four years, he gave vocal to at least 3500 jingles, but he was yet to create an album of his own.
However, according to KK’s own philosophy, his working in advertisements was the key to unlocking his realisation that, a song should be sung by heart, from heart, otherwise it is not going to be great music.
Before he could make it to his first album, he debuted in Bollywood with the song 'Tadap Tadap,' a song that a whole generation listened to with tearful eyes and anguish. And when Sony Music India started their journey, KK finally got the chance to make his debut album, Pal.
Afterwards, there was no stopping. One by one, his songs were winning the heart of the listeners.
To the '90s kids of the subcontinent, KK was like the muse of music. One by one, he was throwing not only chartbuster songs like Pal and Yaaron-Dosti from his albums but also his playbacks in Bollywood movies.
In 2006, a nostalgic movie named Gangstar was released, and suddenly a new song 'Tu Hi Meri Shab Hai' started to mesmerize everyone’s ears. In continuation to this, came one of the most appreciated love anthems for that same generation of kids, Ajab Si, from Om Shanti Om.
Khuda Jaane, featuring in Bachna Ae Haseeno was probably one of the best songs of KK, which was later also used as a jingle.
Does anyone remember Bhool Bhulaiyaa? And the two songs, Labon Ko and Allah Hafiz? It is a matter worth thinking that how a singer can portray such accurate feelings in songs from two completely different genres with his voice!
In 2008 and 2009, came the songs Zara Sa, Hai Junoon and Dil Ibaadat, respectively from Jannat, New York and Tum Mile. Jannat 2 also featured a song by KK, Tujhe Sochta Hoon.
KK also has sung the reprise version of Alvida from Life in a Metro, which was in no way lesser than James’ one in qualities. Abhi Abhi from Jism 2 was another power-packed performance of KK.
KK had been at his peak of popularity in the 2000s and 2010s. But, from his lowest position to the highest one, he never supported standing in front of anyone’s door for work.
He considered it as his sense of pride, rather than being rude. In an interview with Bollywood Hungama, he once said, “You don’t need to socialise to get work.” This quote shows his faith in himself and his music as an artist.
As we speak about him, everything regarding him has become past. Music lovers around the globe are in disbelief, mourning with heart-wrenching pain -- how can KK be no longer?
While fans were sharing KK's live performance at a concert at Nazrul Mancha in Kolkata, did they know their beloved singer will soon leave them for good? As Facebook and Twitter flooded with clips of legendary KK songs, the man with a magical voice might now be singing 'Zindagi, do pal ki' from heaven.
No matter how hard it is to believe, 'the voice of love' has gone; turning into truth the lyrics that he sang in his last concert-
Hum rahen ya na rahen kal
Kal, yaad aayenge ye pal
Pal, ye hain pyar ke pal
Chal, aa mere sang chal
Chal, soche kya chhoti si hai zindagi
Kal mil jaaye to hogi khush-naseebi…
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