Just hours before his death on May 31, the acclaimed 53-year-old singer performed at a concert in Nazrul Mancha, a venue at the Sir Gurudas Mahavidyalaya college in the eastern Indian city of Kolkata.<\/p>\n
Tributes to the late singer began to pour out across social media as soon as news of his passing broke, including one from the country’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi.<\/p>\n
Indian actor Akshay Kumar said in a tweet, “Extremely sad and shocked to know of the sad demise of KK. What a loss! Om Shanti.”<\/p>\n
Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri said he was “so sad” to hear of Kunnath’s death, noting that he sang the first song on his first film, and had been a “great friend” ever since.<\/p>\n
“Why so early, KK, why? But you have left behind a treasure of a playlist. Very difficult night. Om Shanti. Artists like KK never die,” Agnihotri said.<\/p>\n
Kunnath’s first breakthrough role in Bollywood was with the song, “Tadap Tadap Ke” from the movie, “Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam.” <\/p>\n
His other popular tunes include “Sach Keh Raha Hai” from the movie “Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein” and the song “Mangalyam,” from the movie, “Saathiya.”<\/p>\n
Born in August 1968 in New Delhi, Kunnath graduated from Delhi University’s Kirori Mal College, before jumpstarting his career by singing for jingles for advertisements, according to CNN affiliate, News18.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n