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Sivamani, Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 15, 2026 • 3 min read

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Quick Info

Date of birth1 December 1959

Age61 Years

BirthplaceMadras (Now Chennai), Tamil Nadu, India

ProfessionIndian Percussionist and Music Director

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseRuna Rizvi (m. 2014)

FamilySon: Kumaran Sivamani; Father: S. M. Anandan; Mother: Lakshmi Anandan

Sivamani, Biography

Indian percussionist and music director Sivamani is best known as A. R. Rahman’s lead percussionist. A self-taught drummer from Chennai, he has built a six

Early life and background

Sivamani was born on 1 December 1959 in Madras (now Chennai), Tamil Nadu. He grew up in a musical family: his father, S. M. Anandan, was a lead percussionist working with composer K. V. Mahadevan. That early exposure helped spark Sivamani’s passion for rhythm, and he began playing drums at a very young age — reports indicate he started when he was seven and left for Mumbai at around eleven to pursue broader opportunities.

He developed much of his technique outside formal institutions. Sivamani is largely self-taught, saying he did not attend a music school for drums. As a child and teenager he spent long hours practicing in informal settings, sometimes on unconventional surfaces, which shaped the hand technique he uses today. He also learned by assisting visiting musicians: he would clean and organize drum kits and help with mic stands just to be close to the instrument.

Career

Sivamani’s career spans live performance, studio work and composition. He became widely known as the lead percussionist for A. R. Rahman and contributed to several of Rahman’s celebrated film scores from the 1990s, including work on soundtracks such as Roja, Kadhal Desam and Bombay. His versatility — moving comfortably between jazz, Carnatic and experimental approaches — opened doors across Indian film music and beyond.

He has performed alongside prominent musicians, including a notable concert with tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain. Sivamani’s collaborations extend into various genres; for example, he worked with singer Hariharan on the 2000 album Kaash, exploring ghazal-influenced material.

In film, Sivamani has credits both as an actor and as a music director. His acting debut in Telugu cinema came with Padamati Sandhya Ragam (1987), in which he appeared as Ronald. As a recording artist he released a solo album, Mahaleela, in 2008. He later moved into film scoring, serving as music director for the Tamil film Arima Nambi (2014) and for the Bollywood project Atkan Chatkan (2020).

Beyond studios and concert halls, Sivamani has taken part in high-profile public performances. He played at the inauguration ceremony for South Africa’s Robben Island museum in 1997 and performed before figures such as Nelson Mandela and the late A. P. J. Abdul Kalam. His live activity has also included appearances at major sporting events: he played for the Chennai Super Kings during the Indian Premier League in 2008 and 2010.

Public profile

Sivamani’s approach is notable for an ability to create rhythms from everyday objects; he has demonstrated that kitchen utensils, suitcases and water cans can become instruments. His primary instruments include drums, octoban, darbuka, udukkai, ghatam and kanjira. Over his career he has been recognized with several honors: he received the Tamil Nadu government’s Kalaimamani award in 2009, a Live Quotients Awards recognition for Best Instrumental Act in 2015, and the Padma Shri from the Government of India in 2019.

Personal life

Sivamani is based in Chennai. He married singer Runa Rizvi in 2014. He has a son named Kumaran Sivamani. His mother is Lakshmi Anandan.

Latest updates

In recent years Sivamani has continued to work in both performance and film music. His album Mahaleela and subsequent film scoring assignments, including Arima Nambi (2014) and the Bollywood film Atkan Chatkan (2020), illustrate a steady expansion from percussionist and accompanist to composer and music director.

Sivamani remains vocal about the importance of practice and the transformative power of music, encouraging aspiring musicians to develop their craft through sustained effort and creative exploration.

Editorial Review and Sources

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 Sivamani,, send the page URL and a reliable correction source to f4udotin@gmail.com.

Reference context: StarsUnfolded

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Recent Work

Atkan Chatkan

Music Director (Bollywood)

2020
Arima Nambi

Music Director (Tamil)

2014
Mahaleela

Solo album

2008
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Career Highlights

  1. Lead percussionist for A. R. Rahman
  2. Performed at Robben Island inauguration before Nelson Mandela (1997)
  3. Received Kalaimamani (2009) and Padma Shri (2019)
  4. Collaborated with Ustad Zakir Hussain and singer Hariharan
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 Sivamani, born?

Sivamani, was born on 1 December 1959.

What is Sivamani, known for?

Sivamani, is known for indian Percussionist and Music Director.

What is Sivamani,’s marital status?

Sivamani,'s marital status is listed as Married.

Who is Sivamani, married to?

Sivamani, is publicly listed as married to Runa Rizvi (m. 2014).