History of KK (singer) in Timeline

"KK", short for Krishnakumar Kunnath, was an acclaimed Indian playback singer known for his wide vocal range and versatility. Singing primarily for films in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada, he achieved widespread recognition and is considered one of India's all-time greatest playback singers. His accolades include two Screen Awards and six Filmfare Award nominations.

August 1968: Birth and Early Life of KK

Krishnakumar Kunnath was born in August 1968 in Delhi to Malayali parents. He grew up in New Delhi and sang 3,500 jingles before entering Bollywood.

August 1968: Birth of Krishnakumar Kunnath (KK)

Krishnakumar Kunnath, widely known as KK, was born in August 1968.

1991: Marriage and Family Life

In 1991, KK married Jyothy Krishna. They had a son, Nakul Krishna Kunnath, who sang "Masti" with him, and a daughter named Taamara Krishna Kunnath.

1994: KK's Move to Mumbai and Early Career

After graduating with a commerce degree, KK briefly worked as a marketing executive before pursuing music. He moved to Mumbai in 1994 and initially sang at hotels while trying to establish himself in the music industry.

1994: KK's Entry into Jingles and Playback Singing

KK's demo tape in 1994 led to his first jingle for a Santogen Suiting ad. He sang over 3,500 jingles in four years. He debuted as a playback singer with songs in "Kadhal Desam" and "Minsara Kanavu".

1996: Early Bollywood Contribution in "Maachis"

Before his breakthrough, KK had sung parts of the song "Chhod Aaye Hum" in the 1996 film "Maachis".

1996: KK's Debut as a Playback Singer

KK made his debut as a playback singer in 1996 with the song "Chhod Aaye Hum" from the film "Maachis." This marked the beginning of his successful career in the Indian music industry.

1996: KK's Film Debut

KK made his film debut with a song in the movie "Maachis" in 1996.

1997: KK's Collaboration with A.R. Rahman

KK collaborated with A.R. Rahman for the song "Strawberry Kannae" in the film "Minsara Kanavu" in 1997.

1997: Collaboration with A.R. Rahman on "Strawberry Kanne"

KK's collaboration with A.R. Rahman on "Strawberry Kanne" in 1997 marked a significant point in his career.

1999: KK's Participation in "Josh of India" Song

KK featured in the song "Josh of India", released in 1999 to support the Indian cricket team during the World Cup.

1999: Release of Debut Album "Pal"

KK released his debut album "Pal" in 1999, which became his career breakthrough. The album featured popular songs like "Pal" and "Yaaron", often used in school graduations.

1999: Release of Debut Album "Pal" with Sony Music

KK released his debut solo album "Pal" with Sony Music in 1999. The pop rock album, with music by Lesle Lewis, included popular tracks like "Aap Ki Dua", "Yaaron", and the title track "Pal".

1999: KK's Bollywood Breakthrough with "Tadap Tadap Ke Is Dil Se"

KK's Bollywood breakthrough came with "Tadap Tadap Ke Is Dil Se" from "Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam" in 1999, which he considered a turning point in his career.

2001: KK's Collaboration with Harris Jayaraj

KK collaborated with composer Harris Jayaraj on the song "Love Pannu" in 2001.

2001: Release of "Koi Kahe Kehta Rahe"

KK sang "Koi Kahe Kehta Rahe" for the film "Dil Chahta Hai" in 2001.

2002: Release of "O Humdum Suniyo Re" and "Dola Re Dola"

KK lent his voice to two popular songs in 2002: "O Humdum Suniyo Re" from "Saathiya" and "Dola Re Dola" from "Devdas".

2002: Popularity with "Dola Re Dola"

KK's rendition of "Dola Re Dola" in the film "Devdas" in 2002 furthered his popularity.

2003: More Hits with Harris Jayaraj

KK and Harris Jayaraj collaborated again in 2003, producing two hit songs: "Uyirin Uyire" and "Kalyanam Dhaan Kattitkittu".

2003: Release of "Uyirin Uyirae"

KK sang "Uyirin Uyirae" for the Tamil film "Kaaka Kaaka" in 2003.

2004: Release of "Apadi Podu"

KK's Tamil song "Apadi Podu" from the film "Ghilli" was released in 2004 and gained nationwide popularity.

2004: KK's Impact on Tamil Film Music

KK's songs, particularly "Appadi Podu" which became a nationwide sensation in 2004, significantly impacted Tamil film music during the 2000s.

2005: Release of "Dus Bahane"

KK sang "Dus Bahane" for the film "Dus" in 2005.

2006: Release of "Kya Mujhe Pyaar Hai" and "Tu Hi Meri Shab Hai"

KK recorded two popular songs in 2006: "Kya Mujhe Pyaar Hai" from "Woh Lamhe..." and "Tu Hi Meri Shab Hai" from "Gangster: A Love Story".

2006: Release of "Kya Mujhe Pyaar Hai"

KK sang the popular song "Kya Mujhe Pyaar Hai" for the film "Woh Lamhe..." in 2006.

2007: Success with "Aankhon Mein Teri"

KK's song "Aankhon Mein Teri" from "Om Shanti Om" became a hit in 2007.

January 2008: Release of Second Album "Humsafar"

KK released his second album, "Humsafar", in January 2008. The album featured a mix of Hindi and English songs, with KK composing eight of the tracks.

2008: KK's Song for Pakistani TV Show

KK sang "Tanha Chala" for the Pakistani TV show "The Ghost" which aired in 2008.

2008: Release of "Khuda Jane" and "Zara Sa"

KK sang two popular songs in 2008: "Khuda Jane" from "Bachna Ae Haseeno" and "Zara Sa" from "Jannat".

2008: Critical Acclaim for "Khuda Jane"

KK's performance of "Khuda Jane" in the film "Bachna Ae Haseeno" in 2008 earned him critical acclaim.

2008: Success of KK's Second Album

KK's second album, released in 2008, achieved significant success.

2009: KK's Only Malayalam Song

Despite his Malayali heritage, KK sang only one Malayalam song in his career: "Rahasyamay" for the film "Puthiya Mukham" in 2009.

2009: KK Wins Screen Award for "Khuda Jaane"

KK won the Screen Award for Best Playback Singer - Male for his song "Khuda Jaane" from the film "Bachna Ae Haseeno" in 2009.

2010: Release of "Sajde"

KK's song "Sajde" from the film "Khatta Meetha" was released in 2010.

2013: Notable Songs in "Aashiqui 2" and "Murder 3"

KK delivered two memorable songs in 2013: "Piya Aaye Na" from "Aashiqui 2" and "Mat Aazma Re" from "Murder 3".

2013: Release of "Piya Aaye Na" and "Mat Aazma Re"

KK sang "Piya Aaye Na" for "Aashiqui 2" and "Mat Aazma Re" for "Murder 3", both released in 2013.

January 2014: KK's Performances on MTV Unplugged and Other Shows

KK appeared on various musical programs, including Coke Studio and MTV Unplugged, which aired in January 2014.

April 2014: KK's "Salaam Dubai 2014" Concert

KK performed at his concert "Salaam Dubai 2014" in Dubai in April 2014.

2014: Popularity of "India Wale"

KK's song "India Wale" from "Happy New Year" became widely popular in 2014.

August 2015: Television Appearances

In August 2015, KK appeared as a judge and guest jury member on the singing-reality show Indian Idol Junior. He also appeared on the Sony Mix show Baaton Baaton Mein.

2015: Release of "Tu Jo Mila"

KK sang "Tu Jo Mila" for the film "Bajrangi Bhaijaan", released in 2015.

2019: KK's Perspective on the Music Industry

In 2019, KK shared his views on the music industry, stating that he found joy in live performances and considered them a "commitment to the audience." He also expressed his desire to release a new album, following the success of his second album in 2008.

2019: KK's Perspective on Singing and Privacy

In 2019, KK stated his belief that a singer's visibility was insignificant compared to their voice being heard. He admitted to feeling more comfortable with a microphone than a camera and emphasized his value for privacy, preferring his singing not to be associated with a specific actor.

May 2022: Death of KK

KK passed away in May 2022.

May 2022: KK's Final Concert and Untimely Death

On May 31, 2022, KK performed his final concert at Nazrul Mancha in Kolkata. After the concert, he experienced cardiac arrest at his hotel and was pronounced dead at Calcutta Medical Research Institute (CMRI) at the age of 53.

June 2022: Investigation into KK's Death and Public Interest Litigations

In June 2022, Kolkata Police initiated an investigation into KK's death, with the autopsy report concluding myocardial infarction (heart attack) as the cause. The report also suggested that immediate CPR could have potentially saved him. Public interest litigations (PILs) related to his death were filed in the Calcutta High Court.

2022: KK's Legacy and Recognition

In 2022, KK's legacy was solidified as he was featured in Google's "Top 100 Most Searched Asians" list and nine of his songs were included in BBC's "Top 40 Bollywood Soundtracks of all time" list.

2022: Posthumous Release of KK's Song

KK collaborated with filmmaker Srijit Mukherji and lyricist Gulzar on "Dhoop Paani Bahne De" for the film "Sherdil: The Pilibhit Saga" in 2022. The song was released posthumously.

2023: Tributes and Recognition for KK

Following his death, KK received numerous tributes from fellow artists like Arijit Singh and Abhijeet Bhattacharya, who acknowledged his impact on the Indian music industry. Arijit Singh, in particular, considered KK as his mentor and paid tribute by singing KK's song "Dil Ibadat" in his concerts.

2023: Posthumous Recognition and Tributes for KK

In 2023, a statue of KK was erected at Gurudas Mahavidyalaya in Kolkata, the venue of his last concert. Several prominent singers, including Arijit Singh, Shaan, Sunidhi Chauhan, Sonu Nigam, and Shilpa Rao, paid tribute to KK by performing his songs during their concerts.

October 2024: Google Doodle Honors KK

On October 25, 2024, Google honored KK with a Google Doodle to commemorate the anniversary of his debut as a playback singer in 1996 with the song "Chhod Aaye Hum" from the film "Maachis".