KK was a well known play back singer who was famous for his tremendous voice and sad songs.On May 31, 2022, KK died of a heart attack barely hours after giving a live concert in Kolkata. He was just 53 years old.

He was a prominent singer in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu films. His name was often confused with the similar screen name of a Bollywood actor, Kay Kay Menon.

Early Life Story

Krishna Kumar was born in Thrissur, Kerala, and raised in New Delhi. He was a student of Mount St. Mary’s School in Delhi Cantt. and then he moved on to graduate from Kirori Mal College, Delhi University. 

After this, he moved on to Mumbai to start his career as a singer. In his formative years, he started as ad jingle singer when he presented his demo tapes to Louis Banks, Ranjit Barot and Leslie Lewis in 1994, just to get a break.

KK soon became a playback singer for A. R. Rahman’s hit songs like College Style (Tamil version with Hariharan), and Hello Dr (Hindi version) in the 1996 Tamil movie Kadhal Desam.

By 1997, he sang Strawberry Kannae for another Tamil musical film Minsara Kanavu. He also sang the Hindi version called Strawberry Aankhen with Kavita Paudwal.

His Career

During the 1999 Cricket World Cup, he was included in the song “Josh of India” in support of the Indian cricket team. Following that, he released Pal, an album whose title song was well received by audiences. From the same album, the songs “Aap ki Dua” and “Yaaron” were also hit.

Chhod Aaye Hum was his debut Bollywood film song (Maachis). However, it was the song Tadap Tadap from the film Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam that catapulted him to fame.

His next released album Humsafar did not go as well as he expected, but some songs fared well such as Raina Bhari Kaari, Ye Kahaan mil Gaye Hum and Aasmaan ke.

Entry in Bollywood

After his returning into the Bollywood, he noted winners for the songs such as “Chand Ki Roshni Se”, “Awarapan Banjarapan” from “Jhankar Beats” to “Tu Aashiqui Hai” (for which she received a National Award), “Home Delivery”. . Jism”, “It’s the Time to Disco” from “Kal Ho Naa Ho” and the smash hit “Dus Bahane” (with Shaan) from the movie “Dus”.

His other hit songs includes “Tu Hi Meri Shab Hai” from the movie of Gangster, “O Meri Jaan” from Life in a Metro, “Soniye Soniye” from “Aksar”, “Mera Pehla Pehla Pyar Hai” from “Mera Pehla Pehla Pyaar Hai”. Are included. Hai”, “Bye Bye Bye” from “Life in a Metro”, “Ajab Si” from “Om Shanti Om” and “Kya Mujhe Pyaar Hai” from “Woh Lamhe”. His next smash hit “Khuda Jaane” from the movie “Bachna Ae Haseeno” was released in August 2008. He was the new voice of India in the sense that almost all struggling singers want his voice.

KK’s second album ‘Humsafar’ was released on 24 January 2008.

He had also sung in South Indian languages – Tamil and Telugu. His Tamil songs popular in Chennai are My Name is Billa from the movie Billa, Uyrin Uire from the movie Kakha Kakha, Kadalikkum Asai Andu from the movie Chelme, and Appadi Podu Ghilli.

Awards

Screen Awards

• Best Playback Singer” Male (Non-Film Music) for “Pal” (Pal) – 1999
• Best Playback Singer” Male “Khuda Jaane” (Bachna Ae Haseeno)- 2009
• He also won Eenam-Swaralaya Singer of the Year Award 2012.

His TV Shows

He was a jury member for a talent hunt show Fame Gurukul. In the MTV Coke studio joint venture, he recomposed a version of Tu Aashiqui Hain from Jhankaar Beats. He also performed for the Sony Mix TV Show and MTV Unplugged Season 3 on Jan 11, 2014.