Untrained, like his inspiration Kishore Kumar, the self-effacing singer believed in being identified by his voice and never his public utterances
Untrained, like his inspiration Kishore Kumar, the self-effacing singer believed in being identified by his voice and never his public utterances
Blessed with a voice that created the magic of youthful exuberance and the melancholy of affection with equal felicity, Krishnakumar Kunnath (1968-2022) gave goosebumps to the listeners each time he took the stage. Anybody who was touching puberty on the flip of the brand new millennium would have a KK tune of their reminiscence, that soaked the soul. One of probably the most versatile singers of this technology, KK had a fan following throughout languages, geographical boundaries, and age teams.
Born in a Malayali household in Delhi, the shy boy turned the lifeline of stage reveals proper from his faculty days in Kirorimal. Untrained, like his inspiration Kishore Kumar, the self-effacing singer believed in being identified by his voice and never his public utterances. Like Kishore, he internalised the emotion and what got here out was all the time heartfelt, largely lasting.
After a few well-liked albums, notably his Pyar Ke Pal quantity, he turned a sensation with Hum Dil Chuke Sanam (1999), the place he sang the anthem for the jilted lovers: “Tadap Tadap Ke Dil Se Aah Nikalti Rahi”. From the IITs and IIMs to the native schools, no pupil farewell was ever full with out his songs of heartbreak and nostalgia, laced with the euphoric admission: “Tu Aashiqui Hai” ( Jhankaar Beats).
Composed by the purist Ismail Durbar, Tadap Tadap not solely proved KK’s vary within the greater octaves, but additionally propelled him to sing a number of tracks for Salman Khan, whose fame was on the ascent.
Over the following twenty years, he sang immensely well-liked numbers for Shah Rukh Khan (“Aankhon Main Teri”), Emraan Hashmi (“Tu Hi Meri Shab Hai”, “Zara Si Dil Main De Jaga Tu”), Hrithik Roshan (“Dil Kyun Mera Shor Kare”) and Ranbir Kapoor (“Khuda Jane”) however his vocal chemistry with Salman remained unmatched, as evident up until Bajrangi Bhaijaan (“Tu Jo Mila” ).
However, for the survivors of heartache, KK’s “Maine Dil Se Kaha Dhoondh Lana Khushi” ( Rog) is the final hope. In reality, there was a section in his profession when KK’s voice turned a balm for damaged hearts, as envisioned by Mahesh Bhatt’s banner. In Rog, he matched the depth of Irrfan’s eyes with the khalish (mordacity ) in his timbre. You might play it on the loop for the entire night time, however nonetheless wouldn’t be capable to map the undulations in KK’s voice. He evoked the same sense of longing in “Awarapan Banjarapan” ( Jism).
In each the movies, he labored with MM Kreem who introduced out the melancholic flavour in his voice.
Having began his profession with A.R. Rahman ( Kadhal Desam), KK additionally had an enormous following in South India. His songs with Harris Jayaraj turned a rage amongst youth, coming to phrases with their first flush of romance. When R Madhavan’s Minnale was remade as Rehnna Hai Tere Dil Main, KK’s “Sach Keh Raha Hai Deewana” turned a staple of musical evenings. Their affiliation continued until the upcoming Legend. Like Durbar, when Maestro Ilaiyaraaja pushed him out of his security web in Ninu Choodaka Nenundalenu, KK proved his price.
He labored with all the highest composers of the nation however, not like a few of his contemporaries, he was known as for one or two numbers that determined or modified the course of the narrative. With unhappy numbers waning away from Indian cinema, KK was not remembered that usually by composers. Yet, when Pritam — with whom he had a protracted and profitable affiliation — wanted a rousing quantity for 83, he dialled up KK and we acquired “Yeh Hausle” . It reminded us of the sense of hope he generated with “Aashayein” in Iqbal.
Till the tip, he remained a rage within the live performance circuit and can be remembered because the singer who turned the voice of the center when the world was stepping into the rat lure of insipid pragmatism.
Source: www.thehindu.com
