The Indian filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali was shocked to hear the news of KK’s demise. Singer Krishnakumar Kunnath popularly known by his last name KK took his last breath in Kolkata after singing the first song of his career “Pal rahe ya na rahe kal.” Sanjay Leela Bhansali was baffled by questions encircling the death of the melodious voice. The director of Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam reacted, “How could KK just collapse and die like this? Are you sure? What a talent! What a singer! His voice had the throw of a pro.”
He then recalled hearing his magical voice for a soulful track from his movie. Bhansali was awe-struck to know it was KK who lent his voice for the song Tadap Tadap. Reminiscing the conversation with music composer Ismail Darbar, he said: “I remember when composer Ismail Durbar had come to me with the song ‘Tadap Tadap Ke’ it was in KK’s voice. Normally scratch recordings (sample recordings) are done in temporary voices. But when I heard the song my first response was, ‘Oh my God! What a voice? Who is this? Where did you find him?’”
Bhansali continued: “Ismail said it was the voice of a singer named KK and he had heard him sing a song ‘Chhod Aaye Hum Woh Galiyan’ for Vishal Bhardwaj. I told Ismail that I loved the song ‘Tadap Tadak Ke’. But the voice must remain. I couldn’t imagine anyone else singing ‘Tadap Tadap Ke’.”
It is widely known that ‘Tadap Tadap’ from the film ‘Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam’ was picturized on Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. The song acquired an anthemic resonance over the years, added the filmmaker. He further appreciated KK for his quality saying: “KK was a complete singer. His range and voice-throw were outstanding. He could have been much more successful than he was. But he preferred to concentrate on quality rather than quantity. He was very particular about what he sang.”
KK also lent his voice to other movies by Sanjay Leela Bhansali like ‘Devdas’ and ‘Guzaarish’. In the latter film, SLB became a full-fledged music composer and KK sang for three of his compositions – ‘Daayen Baayen’, ‘Jaane Kisske Khwab’ and the title song ‘Guzaarish’.
Also Read: Ismail Darbar Feels Distraught About Death Of KK On His Birthday