Legendary Santoor Maestro Shiv Kumar Sharma Passes Away In Mumbai

Bhubaneswar: Santoor maestro and renowned musician Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma passed away in Mumbai on Tuesday. He was 84.

According to reports, Sharma was battling renal complications and was on dialysis for the past few months. He died of cardiac arrest.

A legend in Santoor music, Sharma took it new heights around the world through his stage performances. He was scheduled to give a jugalbandi performance in Bhopal live concert on May 15 along with legendary flutist Hariprasad Chaurasia. The duo has given soulful music to films like ‘Silsila’, ‘Lamhe’ and ‘Chandni’ among others.

Sharma was conferred Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1986, Padma Shri in 1991 and Padma Vibhushan in 2001.

Born on 13 January 1938 in Jammu & Kashmir, Shiv Kumar started learning vocals and tabla at age of five years. He started learning Santoor at the age of 13.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed his condolence on the death of the maestro in a tweet. Several veterans of music industry and Hindi film world have also condoled the demise of Sharma.