Krishnakumar Kunnath

Krishnakumar Kunnath, affectionately known by his initials KK, was born in New Delhi to Malayali parents and graduated in commerce from Kirori Mal College. Giving up a job in hotel marketing to pursue his musical dreams in Bombay, he sang over 3,500 advertising jingles before making an explosive double breakthrough in 1999.

In 1999, KK released his solo debut pop album Pal, whose title track and "Yaaron" became the universal farewell anthems for Indian school and college students. That same year, his heart-wrenching playback rendition of "Tadap Tadap Ke Is Dil Se" in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam established him at the forefront of Bollywood music. Renowned for never having formal classical training yet possessing an astonishing three-octave range and immense soulfulness, he collapsed and died from a heart attack immediately after performing a high-energy college concert in Kolkata at age fifty-three.