When KK, took to the stage at Kolkata’s Nazrul Mancha on Tuesday evening for Sir Gurudas Mahavidyalaya’s fest, Utkarsh 2022 – no one could have imagined that this show would be his last. The singer passed away shortly after the concert, reportedly of a massive cardiac arrest.

The singer was in Kolkata for two back-to-back shows – one on Monday and another on Tuesday – both of which drew full houses. According to those present at his concert on Tuesday, right after wrapping up the show, at around 8 pm, he complained of uneasiness. He made his way back to his central Kolkata hotel, but the discomfort did not subside. He was then rushed to a private hospital in south Kolkata where he was declared brought dead.

Speaking to us, a student, who was present at the concert, shared, “He wasn’t well on Tuesday – one could tell. He was sweating profusely and kept going backstage in between the set for a breather. He was struggling to wrap up the concert. The last song he sang was Pal and soon after, complained to his team of uneasiness. He was immediately escorted off the stage. That was the last time we saw him.”

Another student from Vivekananda College, who attended the concert on Monday, shared, “The only thing noticeable was that he kept asking for the AC to be turned up. We assumed it was because the auditorium was packed and he was quite energetic on stage.”

Music composer and KK’s long-time friend Jeet Gannguli said the singer’s untimely demise has left him devastated. Speaking to us, he said, “I was having dinner with my wife at a restaurant when I got a call from a colleague. I immediately rang up KK’s manager, who was crying inconsolably. I rushed to the hospital but it was all over by then.”

According to Jeet, the singer, on his way back to the hotel, complained of the heat and humidity. “He asked the chauffeur to increase the AC’s fan speed. On being told that the AC was running at full strength, he said he was feeling unusually hot and was also experiencing muscle cramps on his legs and arms,” he said.

Jeet, who has known KK for over 24 years and has worked with him on film albums like Aashiqui 2, Raaz 3D and Sadak 2, said he was not just a versatile singer but a fantastic human being. “He was such a gentle person. There was a lot to learn from him. Never did he turn up at the studio without rehearsing a song. He was a dedicated artiste. Tonight, when I held his hand at the hospital, it seemed as though he’d gone off to sleep. Clad in the concert clothes, he looked like he was taking a nap and would wake up for his next set,” Jeet added.