The voice of love is gone

Hum Rahein Ya Na Rahein Kal

Kal, Yaad Aayenge Yeh Pal

Trans: Whether or not we remain,

These memories will always pertain

When KK was singing these lines at Kolkata's Nazrul Mancha on Tuesday, no one could foresee the irony of these words. Later in the night, the beloved singer would be declared deceased at Calcutta Medical Research Institute (CMRI) hospital, after suffering from a suspected heart attack.

Outrage has spread in social media regarding the circumstances of his death – with many claiming that the organisers were not reactive enough when the singer complained about feeling ill. Some accounts also said that the air conditioning at the venue was not working due to the excess crowd, causing KK to sweat profusely.

When referring to the musical wonder that is Krishnakumar Kunnath, some will say that, "he was a singer who sang till his last breath". As a heartbroken fan, I am sceptical of this highly romanticised take on a death that could have been prevented. Meanwhile, Kolkata Police have filed an unnatural death case over the incident.

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10 evergreen songs by KK

For the ones who grew up in the 2000's, KK was the voice of love. When Sony Music launched in 1999, the artiste was scouted and chosen to be the voice of the programme, giving birth to the "Pal", a fresh-sounding album composed by Lesle Lewis.

It wasn't long before Bollywood picked up on his talent, as he got his big break in Ismail Darbar's timeless "Tadap Tadap" from the movie "Hum Dil De Chukein Sanam". By then, however, he had already voiced over 3,500 jingles.

His legacy was solidified as the "voice of the youth" in the mid 2000's, as he gifted us with one hit after the other, including songs like "Tu Hi Meri Shab Hain", "Aashayen", "Khuda Jaane", "Dil Ibadat", "Kya Mujhe Pyar Hain", "Aankhon Mein Teri" and "Labon Ko", among countless hits.

KK's voice was outstandingly crisp, and his attitude was defiantly humble. As a teenager, I had spent hours not only listening to his music, but watching his interviews online. On multiple occasions, he had said that he did not think that he was 'popular', and that music was there to be heard, not 'seen'.

I had tried to emulate his voice and demeanour, even avoiding enrolling in music school for a long time, telling my insistent father that if KK didn't need classes, neither did I.

"I will never stand outside someone's door for work, because I know I am good at what I do," these words said by KK stuck with me. "I knew the day I got a chance, was the day I would make it happen."

The artiste stayed true to his words – he did not care about fame, just his music. He did not care about recognition, even after being snubbed countless times to other singers in various award shows, despite being nominated every year in his prime, not a single complaint came out of him.

With his demise, an inspiration for an entire generation is gone – gone too soon, without even saying "Alvida". So is the voice of love, which we can now only rewind and remark, "gone too soon."