Shivkumar Sharma
Pandit Shivkumar Sharma (born 13 January 1938) is an Indian music composer and santoor player from Jammu.[2][3][4] The santoor is originally a folk instrument, but became an instrument for Indian classical through his internationally recognized playing style.[1][5]
Pandit Shivkumar Sharma | |
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![]() Pandit Shivkumar Sharma after performance and Talk in First Santoor Samaroh (Santoor Concert) at Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal July 2016 | |
Background information | |
Born | [1] Jammu, British India (now Jammu and Kashmir, India) | 13 January 1938
Origin | Jammu, India |
Genres | Hindustani classical music |
Occupation(s) | Music composer , Musician |
Instruments | santoor, tabla |
Years active | 1955–present |
Associated acts | Rahul Sharma (son) Hariprasad Chaurasia |
Website | santoor |
Early life
Shivkumar Sharma was born in Jammu to the singer[6][7] Uma Dutt Sharma,[8] and his mother tongue is Dogri. His father started teaching him vocals and tabla, when he was just five.[7] Shivkumar started learning santoor at the age of thirteen[7][1] and gave his first public performance in Mumbai in 1955.
Personal life
Sharma married Manorama[8][9] and has two sons.[7] His son Rahul, who started learning at the age of 13, is also a santoor player,[10][11] and they have performed together since 1996.[12][13] In a 1999 interview, Shivkumar stated that he chose Rahul as his shishya, because he thought he had the "gift of God".[7]
Career

Shivkumar Sharma is credited with making the santoor a popular classical instrument.[5][14] He composed the background music for one of the scenes in Shantaram's film Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baje[15] in 1956. He recorded his first solo album in 1960.[1]
In 1967, he teamed up with flautist Hariprasad Chaurasia and guitarist Brij Bhushan Kabra to produce a concept album, Call of the Valley (1967), which turned out to be one of Indian classical music's greatest hits.[1][14] Further, he composed music for many Hindi films in collaboration with Hariprasad Chaurasia,[16] starting with Silsila[15] in 1980. They came to be known as the Shiv-Hari music duo.[15] Some of the movies they composed music for were musical hits, such as Faasle (1985), Chandni (1989), Lamhe (1991), and Darr (1993).
Discography
Albums
Year | Title | Notes |
---|---|---|
1964 | Santoor & Guitar, with Brij Bhushan Kabra | |
1967 | Shivkumar Sharma - (re-released 2005 as "First LP Record of Pandit Shivkumar Sharma" | |
1967 | Call of the Valley, with Brij Bhushan Kabra and Hariprasad Chaurasia | |
1982 | When Time Stood Still!, with Zakir Hussain (Live in Bombay) | |
1987 | Rag Madhuvanti & Rag Misra Tilang, with Zakir Hussain | |
1988 | Hypnotic Santoor | |
1991 | Maestro's Choice, Series One | |
A Sublime Trance | ||
The Glory of Strings | ||
Raga Purya Kalyan, with Zakir Hussain | ||
1993 | Rag Rageshri, with Zakir Hussain | |
Raga Bhopali vol I | ||
Raga Kedari vol II | ||
Varshā – A Homage to the Rain Gods | ||
1994 | Sound Scapes, Music of the Mountains | |
Hundred Strings of Santoor | ||
The Pioneer of Santoor | ||
Raag Bilaskhani Todi | ||
A Morning Raga Gurjari Todi | ||
Feelings | ||
1996 | The Valley Recalls - In Search of Peace, Love & Harmony, with Hariprasad Chaurasia | |
The Valley Recalls - Raga Bhoopali, with Hariprasad Chaurasia | ||
Yugal Bandi, with Hariprasad Chaurasia | ||
1999 | Maestro's Choice, Series Two | |
Sampradaya | ||
Rasdhara, with Hariprasad Chaurasia | ||
2001 | Saturday Night in Bombay – Remember Shakti (Universal Records), with John McLaughlin, Zakir Hussain and many others musicians. Composed Shringar | |
2002 | Ananda Bliss, with Zakir Hussain | |
The Flow of Time, with Zakir Hussain | ||
Sangeet Sartaj | ||
2003 | Vibrant Music for Reiki | |
2004 | Sympatico (Charukeshi – Santoor) | |
2004 | The Inner Path (Kirvani – Santoor | |
2007 | Essential Evening Chants, with Hariprasad Chaurasia |
Contributing artist
Year | Title | Network |
---|---|---|
1996 | The Rough Guide to the Music of India and Pakistan | World Music Network |
Awards

Shivkumar Sharma is the recipient of national and international awards, including an honorary citizenship of the city of Baltimore, USA, in 1985,[17] the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1986,[18] the Padma Shri in 1991, and the Padma Vibhushan in 2001.[19]
- 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
References
- "A dream fulfilled". Indian Express. 30 April 2000. Archived from the original on 3 October 2012. Retrieved 3 February 2009.
- "Santoor maestro Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma in conversation on Antardhwani, the film based on his life". Indian Express. 18 September 2008. Retrieved 7 February 2009.
- "Santoor strains music to ears of unborn too". Indian Express. 10 November 2005. Archived from the original on 25 November 2011. Retrieved 7 February 2009.
- "Santoor magic". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 27 February 2005. Archived from the original on 5 March 2005.
- "Santoor comes of age, courtesy Pandit Shivkumar Sharma". Indian Express. 8 January 2009. Archived from the original on 3 October 2012. Retrieved 7 February 2009.
- Gilbert, Andrew (16 November 2007). "Masters of the East come West". Boston Globe. Retrieved 7 February 2009.
- "Music is an expression of human emotions". rediff.com. 20 August 1999. Retrieved 7 February 2009.
- "Note by note". The Times of India. 13 October 2002. Retrieved 7 February 2009.
- "Sultan of strings: Shivakumar Sharma". DNA. 18 August 2006. Retrieved 7 February 2009.
- "Virasaat". rediff.com. 18 March 1998. Archived from the original on 16 May 2008. Retrieved 7 February 2009.
- Dastur, Nicole (3 July 2006). "What's Rahul Sharma's Dalai Lama connection?". Times of India. Retrieved 7 February 2009.
- "Santoor notes that bind: father- son 'Jugalbandi'". livemint.com. 1 July 2007. Retrieved 7 February 2009.
- "Inner Melodies". Indian Express. 29 July 2008. Archived from the original on 3 October 2012. Retrieved 7 February 2009.
- Lavezzoli, Peter (2006). The Dawn of Indian Music in the West. Continuum International Publishing Group. p. 32. ISBN 0-8264-1815-5.
- "Enchantment from Eden valley". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 6 April 2000. Archived from the original on 7 November 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2009.
- "I just pick up the flute and feel the urge to play". Financial Express. 19 February 2000. Archived from the original on 30 July 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2009.
- "Profile". India Today. Archived from the original on 27 April 2009. Retrieved 7 February 2009.
- "Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards – Hindustani Music – Instrumental". Sangeet Natak Akademi. Archived from the original on 16 August 2007. Retrieved 13 May 2009.
- "Padma Awards". Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (India). Retrieved 13 May 2009.