Santoor maestro Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma to be cremated with State honours at 3 pm in Mumbai today
Mumbai, May 11
Maharashtra government has announced state funeral for Pt Shiv Kumar Sharma. He will be cremated with state honours at 3 pm at Vile Parle Pawan Hans Crematorium today.
Indian music composer and santoor player Pandit Shivkumar Sharma passes 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.
He passed away due to cardiac arrest. Pandit Shivkumar Sharma composed the background music for one of the scenes in Shantaram’s film Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baje in 1956. He recorded his first solo album in 1960. He was one half of Shiv- Hari and composed music with flute legend Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia for an array of films such as Silsila, Lamhe, Faasle, Darr and Chandni among others.
Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma had a severe heart attack today around 9 am. He was all set to perform in Bhopal next week. “He had a severe heart attack at around 9 am. He was active and was to perform in Bhopal next week. He was on regular dialysis but was still was active,” the family source said.
Mourning his death, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, “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.
The Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee has also reached out to the family of Pandit Shiv Kumar with condolences. She tweeted, “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.”
The Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Uddhav Thackeray has also announced a state funeral for the maestro. Thackeray paid tributes to veteran music composer Padma Vibhushan Pandit Shivkumar Sharma on his demise.
In his condolence message, the Chief Minister said that the humble Pandit Sharma had rendered uninterrupted service to the music industry. Pandit Sharma’s contribution to the Indian music industry will never be forgotten.
His Son and Santur player Ravi Kumar Sharma also expressed his views on his father’s demise and said world lost a master of Santur player.
Grammy Award Winner Padmabhushan Mohanveena Exponent Pt Vishwamohan Bhatt Ji also conveyed his condolences