Inaugural run was in 1972 when the Jayanti Janata class of trains were started. The exact date isn't clear though.
This was originally the 81/82 Cochin Harbor terminus ( CHTS) - Bombay VT ( BBVT) bi-weekly Jayanti Janata express. There was another Jayanti Janata too for 5 days a week ( 131/32 CHTS- NZM, predecessor of today's Mangala Lakshadweep express).
By the time KK was introduced in 1977, this train was originating from Ernakulam, instead of CHTS and had slip coaches from Mangalore...
more... joining it at Shoranur. And by 1979, it was extended to TVC.