Kolkata: Singer Krishnakumar Kunnath, aka KK, whose lilting voice cascades through an oeuvre of timeless odes to love and friendship, died of suspected cardiac arrest late Tuesday shortly after what was to be his last concert in front of a packed audience at Kolkata’s Nazrul Mancha. He was 54.

KK, whose discography includes generational songs like Pal, Yaaron Dosti, Tadap Tadap Aankhon Mein Teri, etc, had the audience tapping and clapping to his music on stage from 7 pm to 9 pm, after which he returned to his hotel at Esplanade in the heart of the city. He complained of chest pain moments later and was taken to CMRI Hospital, around 5 km away, where he was declared dead on arrival.

“Singer KK was brought dead to our hospital. The body has been kept in our mortuary for the night, although it has been formally handed over to the police,” the hospital said.

Music director Jeet Gannguli, who worked with KK in multiple films and was among the first to reach the hospital, said the singer showed no apparent sign of illness before his sudden death. “He was extremely fit, and would always ask me to take care. He was a great friend. I can’t believe this has happened.”

Minister Arup Biswas, who was also at CMRI with singer-composer Anupam Roy, said the authorities were in touch with KK’s family in Mumbai.

KK was in the city since Monday to perform at two college fests. On Tuesday, he was performing for Gurudas College at Nazrul Mancha along with fellow singers Satish Gajmer and Subhalaxmi.

“He was brilliant at the show and the showstopper. He performed for two hours non-stop, jumping and dancing while singing one chartbuster after another. The auditorium was jam packed. It was so crowded that audiences also felt suffocated,” said Kajari Biswas, a student of Calcutta University.