KOLKATA: Singer Krishnakumar Kunnath, popularly known as KK, who made people groove to his melodious songs, like ‘Pal’, ‘Yaaron Dosti’, ‘Tadap Tadap’ and ‘Aankhon Mein Teri’, died of a sus-pected cardiac arrest shortly after performing to a packed audience at a college fest in south Kolkata’s Nazrul Mancha on Tuesday.
The singer was just 54.
KK had been on stage between 7pm and 9pm — during which he gave a power-packed performance, including the super-hit ‘Alvida’, from ‘Life In A... Metro’ — following which he came back to his hotel at Esplanade. Shortly after reaching the hotel, he reportedly complained of chest pain and was taken to CMRI Hospital, around 5km away, where he was declared dead on arrival.
The singer’s death has shocked the music and film fraternity. Music director Jeet Gannguli, who has worked with KK in multiple films, rushed to the hospital with his wife. “He was extremely fit and would always ask me to take care of myself. He was a great friend. I can’t believe this has happened,” Gannguli said. Music composer Anupam Roy confessed to being a big fan of KK. “I can’t believe that such a talented artist left us this way. He had two back-to-back programmes in Kolkata. I heard the news around 11pm and rushed to the hospital. I had recorded with him for a song. It is indeed a very sad news.”
Minister Arup Biswas also rushed to the hospital. “This is extremely tragic. We are in touch with his family members and those accompanying him from Mumbai,” said Biswas.
KK had been in the city since Monday to perform at two college fests. On Tuesday, he was performing for Gurudas College at Nazrul Mancha.“He was the showstopper and performed for two hours, singing one chartbuster after another,” said Kajari Biswas, a PG student of CU.
