Kolkata: Hours after a concert in Kolkata, a video showed Krishnakumar Kunnath (KK) looking unwell as he was being rushed out of the venue.
He returned to his hotel, where his condition deteriorated. He allegedly suffered from chest pain and died on his way to the hospital.
A second video showed the singer sweating profusely as he took a break to wipe his face. Voices in the video said, “Bohot zyada garam hai (it is very hot).”
At a point, KK was seen gesturing to a man on stage and appeared to be talking about the air-conditioning.
The cause of the singer’s death remains unknown, but a post-mortem report is expected soon. Sources say police have registered a case of unnatural death.
Many social media users claim the Nazrul Manch auditorium in South Kolkata was overcrowded, and the heat became unbearable at 2,400. Social media posts claim that many more people entered the venue where KK performed.
The singer was rushed to CMRI hospital after he fell ill. Doctors there declared him to be dead.
KK, or Krishnakumar Kunnath, was famous for Bollywood’s biggest hits, like ‘Yaaron’ and ‘Pal.’ His songs almost gained cult status amongst teens in the late 1990s.
His voice was familiar at school and college farewells and teen cultural events.
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“There is a certain energy an artist gets on stage. No matter what one’s condition is, once I am on stage, I forget everything and perform,” KK had stated in his memoir on his official website, The Mesmerizer.
KK has recorded songs in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Bengali, and Marathi, among other languages.
Expressing his condolences, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated how KK’s songs reflected a wide range of emotions. The songs struck a chord with people of all ages.
Tributes poured in from across the world as fans said goodbye to the singer, who was the voice of their many emotions.
