Pandit Shivkumar Sharma passes away at 84: Grammy winner Ricky Kej 'devastated', Pankaj Udhas says India lost a gem

Veteran santoor player and music composer Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma passes away at the age of 84 in Mumbai on Tuesday morning following a heart attack. The family sources told PTI he was due to perform in Bhopal next week.

Soon after the news broke, the nation took to social media to mourn the loss of the music legend.

Veteran singer Pankaj Udhas dedicated a special post to the late Santoor legend. "We have lost a gem today... a big loss to the Indian classical music," he said in his post.


Two-time Grammy Award-winning composer Ricky Kej said he was 'devastated' by the passing of the musical legend. A legend of not just classical music, but also mainstream film music, he said. "He has left a huge void in the global music landscape, his music will echo in eternity," he wrote in his post.


Calling it the 'end of an era', Sarod Maestro and composer Amjad Ali Khan said that Sharma's demise was a personal loss to him.

"He (Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma) was the pioneer of Santoor and his contribution is unparalleled. For me, it’s a personal loss and I will miss him no end. May his soul rest in peace. His music lives on forever," he wrote.


Music Composer Kaushal S Inamdar said that the day began with this heartbreaking news. "This supremely talented man from Jammu mastered the instrument from Kashmir - the Santoor. Pt. Shivkumar Sharma and the #santoor have been synonyms for each other," his caption read.


Singer Sona Mohapatra said the santoor maestro personified 'grace'. "Shiv of ‘Shiv-Hari’ who created beautiful film music. Collaborator & kickstarter of the global desi fusion scene with masters like Pt Ravi Shankar & Ust Zakir Hussain," she wrote alongside Sharma's picture.


Kashmiri folk fusion singer, songwriter and composer Aabha Hanjura said Sharma's demise was a huge loss for the entire music fraternity. She said that the late legend put Jammu and Kashmir on the world map. "The santoor maestro has had a deep impact on art, culture and his music lives on," she added.


Singer and lyricist Milind Joshi said ‘santoor’ was very fortunate to be touched by Sharma's 'great hands'. "He transformed it to make it suitable to the delicate divine qualities of Indian Classical Music by giving his own gentle touch to the instrument. The maestro lives with us through his music," he added.


Music Director and singer Jeet Gannguli said that the world of music has lost a genius musician, great visionary, santoor maestro and a wonderful human being. "It’s an irreparable loss for Hindustani Classical Music," he wrote.