Santoor maestro Shivkumar Sharma dies at 84

Story by  ATV | Posted by  sabir hussain • 1 Years ago
Pandit Shivkumar Sharma
Pandit Shivkumar Sharma

 

Mumbai

Santoor maestro and music composer, Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, passed away after a cardiac arrest at the age of 84 in Mumbai on Tuesday.

He had been suffering from kidney-related ailments for the last six months and was on dialysis.

The Jammu-born musician, who elevated the santoor, once a little-known musical instrument from Jammu and Kashmir, to its present exalted global status, will also be remembered for the music he composed with the flute legend, Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia, for films such as 'Silsila', 'Lamhe', 'Chandni' and 'Darr'.

He is survived by wife Manorama and two sons, one of whom, Rahul Sharma, is also an accomplished santoor player.

President Ram Nath Kovind condoled the death of the legendary musician.

Pt Shiv Kumar Sharma's recitals would leave connoisseurs of Indian classical music spellbound. He popularized Santoor, the traditional musical instrument from J&K. Sad to learn that his Santoor is now silenced. Condolences to his family, friends and countless fans everywhere," Rashtrapati Bhavan tweeted. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee have mourned the maestro’s death.

"Our cultural world is poorer with the demise of Pandit Shivkumar Sharma Ji," tweeted Prime Minister Modi.

"He popularised the santoor at a global level. His music will continue to enthral the coming generations. I fondly remember my interactions with him. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti," the Prime Minister tweeted.

Mamata Banerjee said the maestro's death had impoverished our cultural world.

She said: "Sad to know about the demise of Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma, eminent Santoor player and internationally celebrated Indian music composer. His departure impoverishes our cultural world. My deepest condolences."