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Shivkumar Sharma Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 15, 2026 • 4 min read

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Quick Info

Date of birth13 January 1938

Age84 Years (at time of death)

BirthplaceJammu and Kashmir, India

ProfessionIndian Classical Musician (Santoor Maestro)

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseManorama Sharma

FamilyChildren - Rahul and Rohit

Shivkumar Sharma Biography

Pandit Shivkumar Sharma transformed the santoor from a regional folk instrument into a respected voice of Indian classical music. A performer, composer and

Early life and background
Pandit Shivkumar Sharma was born on 13 January 1938 in Jammu and Kashmir, India. He grew up in a musical household: his father, Pandit Uma Dutt Sharma, was a vocalist and tabla player who began teaching him music from a very young age. Shivkumar’s first lessons included vocal music and the tabla, which he began studying at around five years old.

As a teenager his father introduced him to the santoor, an instrument linked to Kashmiri Sufi and folk traditions but not then established in the classical canon. Under his father’s guidance Shivkumar shifted his focus from percussion to the santoor and adapted the instrument’s tuning and style to accommodate the demands of Indian ragas.

Career
Sharma started performing publicly in his teens. He appeared on a children’s radio programme and, at 17, gave a notable early public performance at the Haridass Sangeet Sammelan in Mumbai where he played both tabla and santoor. That appearance marked one of the first national presentations of the santoor in a classical context and drew a mix of admiration and skepticism.

Convinced the instrument could be a vehicle for classical expression, he worked on modifications to the santoor’s construction to increase sustain and resonance and to approximate melodic techniques such as meend that the traditional form could not readily produce. Over decades of work and performance his name became closely identified with the instrument and with its acceptance into Indian classical music.

Sharma moved to Mumbai on 1 June 1960, and that year he recorded his first album. To support himself he also composed for select films; his film work included contributions to Barsaat Ki Raat and Hum Dono. In 1967 he collaborated with flautist Hariprasad Chaurasia and guitarist Brij Bhushan Kabra on the concept album Call of the Valley, which became one of the genre’s most celebrated records.

In later decades Sharma formed a composing partnership with Hariprasad Chaurasia under the name Shiv–Hari. The duo produced soundtracks for several films and were nominated multiple times for Filmfare’s Best Music Director award. Their film work included high-profile projects such as Yash Chopra’s Silsila. Sharma said he found film composition a distinct challenge from concert performance, requiring attention to mood, situation and a director’s vision.

Throughout his career he continued to perform classical concerts worldwide, gave special appearances before international dignitaries, and remained committed to the guru-shishya tradition of teaching. He often taught without charging fees, hosting students from across India and abroad.

Public profile
Sharma received numerous honors during his lifetime. Awards and recognitions listed in his career include the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1986, the Padma Shri in 1991 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2001, along with several lifetime achievement awards and industry recognitions such as platinum and gold discs for prominent recordings and film soundtracks. He also received honorary citizenship of the city of Baltimore in 1985.

He was known for a disciplined approach to practice, maintaining a dedicated riyaz room in his home. His spiritual outlook included devotion to Sri Satya Sai Baba, and he often described classical music as a meditative practice rather than mere entertainment.

Personal life
Sharma married Manorama in an arranged marriage when he was 28. The couple had two sons, Rahul and Rohit. Rahul followed his father’s footsteps with training on the santoor and later became Shivkumar’s shishya and performing partner, joining him professionally in the 1990s.

Later years and death
Sharma continued performing and teaching until late in life. He passed away on 10 May 2022 in Mumbai at the age of 84; the reported cause of death was cardiac arrest.

Latest updates
At various points his music was used in therapeutic contexts and cited in research on music and fetal response. His legacy remains tied to the elevation of the santoor within Indian classical music and to recordings such as Call of the Valley that brought that sound to broader audiences.

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This F4U profile is written from publicly available career and profile information, then reviewed for clarity before publication. If you spot an outdated detail about Shivkumar Sharma, send the page URL and a reliable correction source to f4udotin@gmail.com.

Reference context: StarsUnfolded

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Recent Work

Call of the Valley

Concept album with Hariprasad Chaurasia and Brij Bhushan Kabra that became a landmark recording in Indian classical music.

1967
Music for Silsila (film)

Co-composed soundtrack with Hariprasad Chaurasia for Yash Chopra’s film Silsila.

1981
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Career Highlights

  1. Pioneer who adapted the santoor for Indian classical music
  2. Recorded the influential Call of the Valley (1967)
  3. Partnered with Hariprasad Chaurasia as the Shiv–Hari composing duo
  4. Recipient of major Indian civilian and arts awards including the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, Padma Shri and Padma Vibhushan
  5. Performed internationally and taught students worldwide
Reviewed by F4U Editorial Desk

F4U profile pages are prepared from public career information, checked for readability, and updated when reliable correction sources are shared with the editorial team.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Shivkumar Sharma born?

Shivkumar Sharma was born on 13 January 1938.

What is Shivkumar Sharma known for?

Shivkumar Sharma is known for indian Classical Musician (Santoor Maestro).

What is Shivkumar Sharma’s marital status?

Shivkumar Sharma's marital status is listed as Married.

Who is Shivkumar Sharma married to?

Shivkumar Sharma is publicly listed as married to Manorama Sharma.