Renowned mridangam maestro Vidwan Sridhar Parthasarathy passed away at the age of 54 after collapsing on stage during a live concert performance in Pune. The tragic incident occurred during the early morning Lokmat SwaraChaitanya Diwali Pahat 2026 event.
According to audience members, Parthasarathy was performing normally when he suddenly collapsed mid-piece. Medical professionals present at the venue immediately rushed onto the stage to administer CPR before he was taken to the emergency department at Manipal Hospital, Baner. Despite continuous resuscitation efforts by the medical team, doctors were unable to revive him.
A disciple of Vidwan Karaikudi R. Chandramouli, Parthasarathy was introduced to the mridangam in early childhood and was widely celebrated for bringing elegance, precision, and deep artistic understanding to the percussion instrument. Over a distinguished career spanning decades, he performed alongside leading Classical, Fusion, and World Music icons. He was a frequent collaborator in legendary jazz musician Louis Banks’ ensembles and contributed to the acclaimed global album Miles from India: A Celebration of the Music of Miles Davis, alongside Gino Banks, Rakesh Chaurasia, and Selva Ganesh.
The sudden news of his passing sent shockwaves across the Indian music community, drawing tributes from fellow artists:
“I am utterly shocked and deeply devastated to hear the sad and unfortunate news of the passing of my dearest friend and colleague Sridhar Parthasarathy. You will be deeply missed.” — Louis Banks, Jazz Icon & Composer
“This one hits very hard. Total shock! I have grown up around him as one of my mentors since the days with dad’s group SILK… A gem of a human being, he was kind and helpful to all of us rhythm enthusiasts.” — Gino Banks, Drummer & Performer
Sridhar Parthasarathy leaves behind an enduring legacy as both an extraordinary rhythm master and a beloved mentor to generations of musicians. Stay tuned to know more about it and other news only with us and if you have anything to share, do comment below.
