Entertainment Desk :
Noted Indian music composer and santoor player Pandit Shivkumar Sharma has passed away in Mumbai at the age of 84. He had been suffering from kidney-related issues for the last six months and was on dialysis. This santoor maestro passed away due to cardiac arrest. He was due to perform in Bhopal next week. Pandit Shivkumar Sharma composed the background music for one of the scenes in Shantaram’s movie Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baje in 1956. He recorded his first solo album in 1960. He was one half of the duo Shiv-Hari and composed music with flute legend Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia for films such as Silsila, Lamhe, Faasle, Darr
and Chandni among others.
Pandit Shivkumar Sharma was the recipient of national and international awards, including an honorary citizenship of the city of Baltimore, USA, in 1985, the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1986, the Padma
Shri in 1991, and the Padma Vibhushan in 2001.
“The passing away of Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharmaji marks the end of an era. He was the pioneer of Santoor and his contribution is unparalleled. For me, it’s a personal loss and I will miss him no end. May his soul rest in peace. His music lives on forever! Om Shanti,” eminent sarod player Amjad Ali
Khan tweeted.
