Bollywood singer and composer Shankar Mahadevan couldn’t hold back his grief over the death of maestro mridangam player and musician Vidwan Sridhar Parthasarathy. In a shocking turn of events, the legendary percussionist suffered a fatal heart attack while performing live on stage during a morning Diwali Pahat concert in Pune on November 6, 2026.
Devastated by the tragic loss, iconic singer-composer Shankar Mahadevan took to social media to pen a deeply emotional tribute to his lifelong friend and collaborator. In his note, the Mitwa singer recalled his association with the renowned Mridangist while calling his passing a huge loss for the music industry.
Shankar wrote, “Just cannot digest this !! A huge loss for me and the music fraternity! Out dearest beloved Sridhar Parthasarthy, one of the finest Mridangists and exceptional musician has left us devastated!”
Further in his note, the singer shared, “My first ever Carnatic classical concert about 40 years ago was with Sridhar on the mridangam! We have spent hours and days with music, jokes and crazy laughter!”
Revealing the final moment of Sridhar, the singer shared, “He passed away while playing a concert !! Can you imagine? What a way to exit this planet!”
Offering condolences to Sridhar’s family and praying for their strength, Shankar concluded with, “May God protect his family and give them the strength! Love you, Sridhar.”
About Sridhar Parthasarathy
Sridhar Parthasarathy was an acclaimed Carnatic classical vocalist and renowned playback singer with a classical musician’s background. With his incredible Mridangam skills, he collaborated with renowned musicians like Shankar Mahadevan, Louis Banks, Karl Peters, and Toufique Qureshi.
