Shivkumar Sharma
Musician who made the santoor a classical concert instrument
- Lived
- 84 yrs
- 1938 – 2022
- Works listed
- 3
- Album, Film score
- Honours
- 2
- Most recent 2001
- Profile views
- 0
- 0 followers
Shivkumar Sharma was a musician from Jammu who transformed the santoor, a folk instrument of Kashmir, into an instrument of Indian classical music. With flautist Hariprasad Chaurasia he recorded Call of the Valley and composed popular film music as Shiv–Hari. He died in 2022.
Biography
From folk to classical
Shivkumar Sharma began learning vocal music and tabla from his father, Uma Dutt Sharma, who encouraged him to take up the santoor, a hammered string instrument used in Sufi music in Kashmir. He adapted the instrument and its technique so that it could play the slow, detailed improvisations of Hindustani ragas.
Call of the Valley
In 1955 he performed in Bombay and soon became known nationally. His 1967 album Call of the Valley, with Hariprasad Chaurasia and guitarist Brij Bhushan Kabra, became one of the best-selling Indian classical albums and introduced many listeners to Indian music.
Shiv–Hari
With Chaurasia he composed music for Hindi films as Shiv–Hari, including Silsila (1981), Chandni (1989), Lamhe (1991) and Darr (1993), whose songs remain popular.
Honours and legacy
He received the Padma Shri in 1991 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2001. His son Rahul Sharma is also a santoor player. He died in Mumbai on 10 May 2022.
Timeline
-
1938
Born in Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir
-
1955
First major concert in Bombay
-
1967
Call of the Valley
-
1981
Silsila music
-
1991
Padma Shri
-
2001
Padma Vibhushan
-
2022
Dies in Mumbai
-
2022
Died, aged 84
Notable works
-
1967
Call of the Valley Album
-
1981
Silsila (music) Film score
As Shiv–Hari.
-
1989
Chandni (music) Film score
As Shiv–Hari.
Awards and honours
-
Padma Shri
1991
-
Padma Vibhushan
2001
Did you know?
-
1
He brought a Kashmiri folk instrument to the classical stage.
-
2
He composed Bollywood hits with Hariprasad Chaurasia.
-
3
His son continues his santoor tradition.
Connections
Also born on 13 January
Frequently asked
Who is Shivkumar Sharma?
Shivkumar Sharma was a musician from Jammu who transformed the santoor, a folk instrument of Kashmir, into an instrument of Indian classical music. With flautist Hariprasad Chaurasia he recorded Call of the Valley and composed popular film music as Shiv–Hari. He died in 2022.
When did Shivkumar Sharma die?
Shivkumar Sharma died on 10 May 2022 at the age of 84.
Where is Shivkumar Sharma from?
Shivkumar Sharma was born in Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir.
What is Shivkumar Sharma known for?
Shivkumar Sharma is best known for Santoor; Call of the Valley; Shiv–Hari film music.
What awards has Shivkumar Sharma received?
Notable honours include Padma Shri (1991), Padma Vibhushan (2001).
References
- Shivkumar Sharma — Wikipedia. Wikipedia. Retrieved 2 November 2026.
- Shivkumar Sharma — Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved 2 November 2026.
- Shivkumar Sharma — IMDb. IMDb. Retrieved 2 November 2026.
- Shivkumar Sharma — Hindi Wikipedia. Wikipedia (Hindi). Retrieved 2 November 2026.
- Official website. www.santoor.com. Retrieved 2 November 2026.
- Shivkumar Sharma (Q1391960) — structured data. Wikidata. Retrieved 2 November 2026.
Includes material from the Wikipedia article “Shivkumar Sharma”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. That text is available under the same licence. Learn more
External links
About this profile
- Researched by the TrackFame editorial team; reviewed by Sanjay Sokal under our editorial policy
- First published 2 November 2026
- Last updated
Cite this page
“Shivkumar Sharma.” TrackFame, last updated 3 November 2026. https://trackfame.com/person/shivkumar-sharma
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