Renowned Musician Sridhar Parthasarathy Passes Away Mid-Performance

Veteran musician sridhar parthasarathy mridangam maestro passed away on Friday morning after suffering a heart attack while performing on stage at a Diwali Pahat concert in Balewadi, Pune. He was 54 years old and was rushed to Manipal Hospital in Baner, where he was declared dead.

Friends, colleagues, and prominent figures from the music fraternity flooded social media with emotional tributes following the sudden news. Singers and instrumentalists remembered his immense contribution to classical and experimental music.

Remembering the Life and Career of the Mridangist Sridhar Parthasarathy

Based in Mumbai, Sridhar began his formal training in the mridangam at the tender age of six under vidwan Karaikudi R. Chandramouli. Over a career spanning decades, he accompanied numerous Carnatic stalwarts, including D.K. Pattammal and M. Balamuralikrishna.

Beyond traditional Carnatic platforms, he frequently performed jugalbandis with Hindustani musicians and became a regular fixture in experimental instrumental ensembles. His collaborative work brought him alongside renowned artists like Vikku Vinayakaram, Louis Banks, Ranjit Barot, Fazal Qureshi, Taufiq Qureshi, and Niladri Kumar.

Tributes From the Music Community

Renowned singer Shankar Mahadevan expressed profound shock, recalling a four-decade-long association with the percussionist that began with Mahadevan's very first Carnatic concert. Fellow artists, including jazz veteran Louis Banks, drummer Gino Banks, cultural curator Durga Jasraj, and Carnatic percussionist Ganesh Murali Iyer, also shared heartfelt messages honoring his pure musicianship, warmth, and legacy.

Sources: The Hindu, Telangana Today, The Times of India.