Santoor legend Pandit Shivkumar Sharma cremated with full state honours

Pandit Shivkumar Sharma died on Tuesday due to a cardiac arrest at his Mumbai residence. He was cremated with full state honours in the presence of family and close friends today.

Santoor legend Pandit Shivkumar Sharma was cremated with full state honours in the presence of family and close friends on May 11. Pandit Shivkumar Sharma died on Tuesday due to a cardiac arrest at his Mumbai residence. He was 84.

After a guard of honour in Juhu, where his mortal remains were kept for people to pay their respects, Pandit Shivkumar Sharma's funeral was held at Vile Parle's Pawan Hans Crematorium, news agency PTI reports. His last rites were performed by his sons, followed by a gun salute.

Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, born in Jammu in 1938, began learning santoor at the age of thirteen. His first public performance was in Mumbai in 1955. He has been credited for taking the santoor to the global stage.

Pandit Shivkumar Sharma's family, including wife Manorama and sons Rahul and Rohit, were present.

Celebrities including Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, Shabana Azmi and Javed Akhtar also paid their last respects to the legendary musician earlier today.

Pandit Shivkumar Sharma collaborated with flautist Hariprasad Chaurasia and guitarist Brij Bhushan Kabra in 1967, and together, they produced the acclaimed concept album Call of the Valley.

With Hariprasad Chaurasia, Pandit Shivkumar Sharma composed music for several Hindi films, including Silsila, Chandni as well as Darr.