Two of Bollywood’s most beloved playback singers, Shaan and KK, are coming to the UAE tomorrow night for their first-ever joint performance.
Let’s look at the stars and what the crowd can expect during their Salaam Dubai 2016 show at Dubai Tennis Stadium.
Krishnakumar Kunnath, also known KK
KK’s start in the industry could be considered as a bit of a slog – he sang more than 3,500 jingles before getting his first shot at playback singing in the 1996 romantic Tamil drama Kadhal Desam.
The breakthrough
KK made his first big impression the same year with Chhod Aaye Hum Woh Galiyan from the sleeper hit film Maachis – the track is still a radio mainstay in India.
He released his debut solo album Pal in 1999. It did well, earning him a Star Screen Award for the best solo album, with three songs topping the Indian charts for months.
Career highlights
KK's first smash-hit playback song was Tadap tadap Ke iss Dil Se from the 1999 Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai film Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. It earned him his first Filmfare nomination for best playback singer. He has sung hundreds of songs in Hindi, Telugu, Bengali, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam. He was most recently heard on screen with the song Tu Jo Mila in last year's Salman Khan film, Bajrani Bhaijan.
The future
KK is part of the soundtrack of upcoming Akshay Kumar drama Airlift, and due for release next Thursday. Partly shot in Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah. the film is based on the true story of the mass evacuation of Indians from Kuwait in 1990 during the Iraq-Kuwait war.
Shantanu Mukherjee, also known as Shann
For Shann, vocal talent runs in the family. He is the grandson of lyricist Jahar Mukherjee and the son of the late music director Manas Mukherjee. His mother and sister were also renowned singers.
He dabbled in singing from an early age, recording jingles and cover versions before, at the age of 17, he got his first shot at playback singing for films. It was a minor contribution – a single line in the song Kitni Hai Pyari Pyari Dosti Hamari from the 1989 film Parinda.
The breakthrough
Shann took matters in his own hands and, with his sister, launched the successful pop duo Shaan and Sagarika. Their successes include the 1996 debut album Naujawan and the hugely popular Q- Funk, which in 1998 sold 1 million copies. He has released three solo albums, all of which sold well.
Career highlights
Shaan's first playback hits were Musu Musu Hasi and Wo Pehli Baar from the 1999 film Pyaar Mein Kabhi Kabhi.
His first major award nomination came in 2001, for Koi Kahein Kehta Raahei from Dil Chahta Hai. Six years later, he was celebrating his first awards victory, when Chand Sifarish, from the 2007 film Fanaa, earned him the best male playback award from IIFA and Filmfare. Shaan also launched a well-received career as a TV personality. He has appeared as a mentor to younger singers on several singing-based reality shows.
The future
His work on the soundtrack of the upcoming Bollywood film Sanam Re has been getting attention. His track Chhote Chhote Tamashe is a fun, retro affair.
• Salaam Dubai 2016, tomorrow, at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium. Tickets prices start at Dh100 from dubai.platinumlist.net
