On Friday, October 25, Google honored Indian musician KK, also known as Krishnakumar Kunnath, with an animated doodle. Chhod Aaye Hum, the late singer’s first Bollywood single, was released on this day in 1996. Gulzar’s political thriller Maachis included the song. In the doodle, KK is seen standing and singing while holding a microphone against the Google logo. In the backdrop, we could also make out some musical notes and star emojis.
In a statement posted on its website, the search engine giant clarified the significance of the doodle: “This doodle honors Krishnakumar Kunnath, also known as KK, a prosperous Indian playback singer renowned for his versatility. His recordings of songs in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Bengali, Assamese, and Gujarati are among the many languages for which he is well-known.
Over the course of their three-decade career, KK sung more than 500 songs in Hindi and more than 200 in Telugu, Bengali, Kannada, and Malayalam. They are well-known for songs like Khuda Jaane, Ankhon Mein Teri, and Tu Hi Meri Shab Hai. Hours after his performance, the singer passed away in Kolkata on May 31, 2022. Nakul Krishna, KK’s son, sent a heartfelt message on Instagram a few days after dad passing. It took me some time to process what had transpired three weeks before,” he wrote. The anguish still seems real, like if someone is standing on my chest and choking me.
I eventually realized that I was immobile in a state of shock, but I still wanted to say anything, share something about my dad. I’ve only now realized the advantage you gave me—not the privilege of a nice existence, though I always knew I was fortunate in that sense—but I finally understand what actual agony is like. Being able to see you every day was the greatest honor I have ever experienced.
Nakul also discussed how admirers showered their family with love and support after KK’s passing. “And here we were, constantly showered and surrounded by your affection. I was able to see your outlook on life, including how you interacted with others and how fervently you pursued your passions, particularly singing. How giving you were. The caption said, “Ignoring the negatives and only concentrating on the positives.”
In 1994, KK began performing commercial jingles after sending his demo tape to a well-known Indian performer, marking the beginning of his musical career. Before entering the Hindi film industry, he performed around 3,500 jingles in 11 different languages. When KK released his first album, Pal, in 1999, the general public responded favorably.
