Music director Pt. Shiv Kumar Sharma (of Shiv-Hari) passed away today (10th May) in Bombay at the age of 84 following cardiac arrest. He had been suffering from kidney ailments and was also undergoing dialysis since six months. He is survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter-in-law. Ever since the outbreak of COVID-19, Shiv Kumar Sharma was rarely seen as he had stopped going out. Although Shiv-Hari scored the music for few films only, their tunes in Silsila, Lamhe, Chandni and Darr were all super-hit. All the films were made by Yash Chopra.
Shiv Kumar Sharma had a keen understanding of Indian classical music. He played the santoor and the shehnai so wonderfully that one of the first names that come to the mind when the aforementioned two music instruments are spoken about is that of Pt. Shiv Kumar Sharma. He played the tabla in the Mose chhal kiye jaa song from Guide, at the behest of Rahul Dev Burman. The music for the song was composed by R.D. Burman’s father, S.D. Burman. In fact, Pt. Sharma was so fond of and so admired Rahul Dev Burman that he named his son Rahul. Pandit Sharma also scored the background music for one scene in Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baje.
As a person, Panditji was elegant, dignified, spirited, warm, affectionate and ever-smiling. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1991 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2001.
Panditji’s last rites will be performed tomorrow (11th May) at 2.30 p.m. at Pawan Hans crematorium. Before that, his body will be kept at his residence at Abhijit Building, Kapole Co-op. Housing Society, next to Sohum Spa junction of 11th and V.M. Road, JVPD Scheme, Juhu, Bombay from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
