How Sharma fused classical pride with pop
Along with flautist Hariprasad Chaurasia, Shivkumar Sharma formed "Shiv-Hari", composing music for Bollywood movies. And that is just a small part of the santoor exponent's contribution to the world of music.
AMONG INDIA’S BEST-KNOWN CLASSICAL MUSICIANS
Sharma, one of India's most well-known classical musicians, died early in the morning at his Pali Hill residence in Mumbai. Sharma, one half of the 'Shiv-Hari' composer duo with flautist Hari Prasad Chaurasia, is survived by his wife Manorama and sons Rahul (also a santoor player) and Rohit
STILL TOURING: He was active till his final days. Despite suffering from ailments, and being on dialysis, he was to perform in Bhopal next week
FINAL RITES: His body will be visible for “public darshan” from 10am to 1pm in Juhu Wednesday, following which he will be accorded a state funeral
BROUGHT SANTOOR TO THE WORLD
A PADMA VIBHUSHAN recipient, he is believed to be the first musician to have played Indian classical music on the santoor, a folk instrument from Jammu and Kashmir. Having made a mark across India, Sharma also helped spread the santoor’s popularity across the world
FROM A STUDENT’S PERSPECTIVE
“Pandit Shivkumar Sharma was my life. I got into music only because of him. I was 13 when I told my father that I wanted to learn the santoor from Pandit Shivkumar Sharma ji. We went to his Bandra home and he embraced me as a student with open arms in 1975... I received so much love from him, his wife and his children. He was a special guru... Santoor is a very difficult instrument and he took it to unimaginable heights...”
— PANDIT SATISH VYAS, one of his oldest students
TRIBUTES POUR IN
"Our cultural world is poorer with the demise of Pandit Shivkumar Sharma Ji. 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."
— NARENDRA MODI, Prime Minister “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." — RAM NATH KOVIND, President
AWARDS AND EXCELLENCE: HIS EXTRAORDINARY LIFE
Jan 13, 1938: Shivkumar Sharma born in Jammu
1943: Father Uma Dutt Sharma, a noted vocalist, initiates him into singing and playing the tabla
1951: He is introduced to the 100-stringed instrument, the santoor
Feb 1955: First concert performance, playing the santoor, at Haridas Sangeet Sammelan in Mumbai
1955: Plays santoor in V Shantaram’s Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje with music director Vasant Desai
1956: Meets flautist Pt Hariprasad Chaurasia for the first time at youth festival in Delhi
1966: Marries Manorama, also from Jammu. Sons Rohit and Rahul, born in 1967 and 1972
1967: Releases album, Call of the Valley, with Chaurasia and guitarist Brij Bhushan Kabra
August 14, 1981: Works with Chaurasia in Ramesh Sippy’s film Silsila. The duo, famous as Shiv-Hari, goes on to do the music score for 7 more movies including Chandni (1989), Lamhe (1991) and Darr (1993)
1986: Awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award 1991: Receives Padma Shri, the nation’s fourth-highest civilian award
2001: Receives Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian award
2013: Completes 50 years of performing with tabla player Ustad Zakir Hussain, another famous duo known for their improvisations