Carnatic percussionist Sridhar Parthasarathy dies after collapsing on stage at Pune Diwali concert

A Diwali morning music programme in Pune turned to mourning on Friday. Well-known Carnatic percussionist Sridhar Parthasarathy collapsed while performing and later died. He was 56. Fellow artistes and audience members at the Baner programme are in deep shock at the loss of the celebrated mridangam player.

Parthasarathy was accompanying fellow artistes when he suffered a cardiac arrest in the middle of the programme. People present rushed to help and arranged to take him to a private hospital. He could not be saved despite treatment.

Known for his command of the mridangam, Parthasarathy built a distinguished career accompanying several big names in Indian classical music, including D. K. Pattammal, Madurai G. S. Mani, Dr M. Balamuralikrishna and Ranganath Sharma.

His interests were not confined to traditional Carnatic music. He worked with artistes from different genres and took part in jugalbandis with performers such as Shankar Mahadevan, Sanjeev Abhyankar, Ratan Mohan Sharma and Nandkishor Mule.

He received his first training in the mridangam at the age of just six. He later trained under the noted musician Karaikudi R.

His death during a live performance has abruptly ended a long musical journey. The classical music world is in mourning at the passing of an accomplished accompanist.