Legendary music composer and santoor player Pandit Shivkumar Sharma passed away on 10 May due to cardiac arrest. He was 84 years old.
In the last two years, in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, Pandit Shivkumar Sharma barely stepped out of his residence.
However, he was occasionally spotted at events. Pandit Shivkumar Sharma was suffering from kidney-related ailments for the last six months. He was also undergoing dialysis. His last rites will be performed this evening.
Born in Jammu, Pandit Shivkumar Sharma started learning santoor at the age of thirteen. His first public performance was in 1955 in Mumbai. He is credited with popularizing the santoor.
In addition, Pandit Shivkumar Sharma composed the background music for a scene from the 1956 film Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baje. Four years later, Pandit Shivkumar Sharma recorded his first solo album.
Pandit Shivkumar Sharma collaborated with flutist Hariprasad Chaurasia and guitarist Brij Bhushan Kabra in 1967 and together, they produced the acclaimed concept album Call of the Valley.
Along with Hariprasad Chaurasia, Pandit Shivkumar Sharma composed music for several Hindi films including Silsila, Chandni and Darr.
Pandit Shivkumar Sharma was awarded the prestigious Padma Shri in 1991 and Padma Vibhushan in 2001.