Padma Vibhushan Pandit Shivkumar Sharma dies at 84, leaves behind rich legacy - A look at his impeccable achievements!

The legendary Indian Santoor player Pandit Shivkumar Sharma died at the age of 84, in Mumbai on Tuesday.

Santoor player Padma Vibhushan Shivkumar Sharma no more: Today, let's take a look at his impeccable body of work and achievements over the years.

• Pandit Shivkumar Sharma's unmatched achievements

The Indian musical maestro and santoor player from Jammu, Padma Vibhushan Pandit Shivkumar Sharma breathed his last on Tuesday following a heart attack in a Mumbai hospital. He was 84. India's most well known classical musicians, died between 8 and 8.30 am at his Pali Hill residence here, his secretary Dinesh told PTI. 

He had been active till the end and was due to perform in Bhopal next week. He was also suffering from renal ailments. "He had a severe heart attack in the morning... He was active and was to perform in Bhopal next week. He was on regular dialysis but was still was active," a family source said. Today, let's take a look at his impeccable body of work and achievements over the years

• Pandit Shivkumar Sharma's international recognition

In 1967, he teamed up with flautist Hariprasad Chaurasia and guitarist Brij Bhushan Kabra and produce a concept album named Call of the Valley. The album became a huge hit of Indian classical music. In his tenure, he collaborated with many musicians like Zakir Hussain and Hariprasad Chaurasia.

He also has the honorary citizenship of the city of Baltimore, the USA owing to his unmatched musical career which has been globally hailed. In 2002, he published his autobiography 'Journey with a Hundred Strings: My Life in Music' and taught Santoor music to his students coming in from the US, Japan, Germany, Australia and India. 

The void created by his demise can never be filled again.

May his soul rest in peace!

• Pandit Shivkumar Sharma composed music for Bollywood films

In his illustrious career, Pandit Shivkumar Sharma also composed music for many Hindi films in collaboration with renowned flautist Hariprasad Chaurasia beginning with Silsila in 1980. 

The two became famous as Shiv-Hari music duo. Some of the movies they composed music for were musical hits, such as Faasle (1985), Chandni (1989), Lamhe (1991), and Darr (1993).

• Pandit Shivkumar Sharma made Santoor popular!

Shivkumar Sharma is hailed for making the classical instrument Santoor popular in modern times. He composed the background music for one of the scenes in Shantaram's film Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baje in 1956 and recorded his first solo album in 1960.

• Santoor legend's other honours

Pandit Shivkumar Sharma got the Platinum Disc for Call of the Valley, Platinum Disc for music of film Silsila, Gold Disc for music of film Faasle, Platinum Disc for music of film Chandni, Pandit Chatur Lal Excellence Award - 2015 respectively. 

In 2016, Santoor maestro Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma was honoured with the annual Sangeet Martand Ustad Chand Khan Lifetime Achievement Award at the 23rd edition of the festival held in New Delhi.

•  Shivkumar Sharma's awards

The late legendary santoor player has been bestowed with the highest honours including honorary citizenship of the city of Baltimore, USA, in 1985, the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1986, and the Padma Shri in 1991, and the Padma Vibhushan in 2001 respectively. 

• Shivkumar Sharma's early life

Born to a musician mother Uma Dutt Sharma in Jammu, Pandit Shivkumar Sharma began his musical journey quite early. He started learning santoor at 13 and gave his first public performance in Mumbai in 1955 at 17. 

His son Rahul Sharma is also a santoor player now.