Rahul Sharma

Rahul 's grandfather, Uma Dutt Sharma, was a master of the santoor. The harsh tone of the instrument made it fall out of line with folk music, classical music, but Uma Dutt Sharma persisted.  (BCCL/Rajesh Bansod)

Shivkumar Sharma, his father, mastered the instrument by experimenting with various striking positions and tones. As Shivkumar's status rose in the musical circles of Kashmir, word of his performances grew over borders and continents.  (BCCL/Rajesh Bansod)

Rahul has performed in North America and throughout Europe, and at various folk and world music festivals, including 'Womad'.  (BCCL/Rajesh Bansod)

Rahul quickly became a sought after concert artist, and has released several CDs, some solo and some with his father. He has collaborated with international musicians like pianist Richard Clayderman and keyboardist Kersi Lord. The Confluence (2002) has mostly Indian titles, six of which were composed by Rahul Sharma himself.  (BCCL/Rajesh Bansod)

Rahul provided the music for the Hindi feature film 'Mujhse Dosti Karoge', for which he received the award in the 'Best Debut-Music Director' category at the 2002 Zee Bollywood Music Awards. His last album Time Traveler which has been described as New-Age was released on March 10, 2006.  (BCCL/Rajesh Bansod)

Rahul in a chilled out mood at Hotel Pride during his recent visit to attend Kalidas festival in Nagpur. (BCCL/Rajesh Bansod)

Santoor player Rahul Sharma during the Kalidas Mahotsava 2009 held at Dr. Vasantrao Deshpande Hall, Civil Lines in Nagpur.  (BCCL/Rajesh Bansod)

He was always in love with music, singing and playing the harmonium at an early age. (BCCL/Nitin Malik)

Rahul Sharma was born in Mumbai to the santoor player, Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, from a family steeped in the tradition of Kashmir  (BCCL/Saatish Jaiswal)

Rahul married Barkha Patel from Mumbai, who was his girlfriend for two years, on 20 January 2008. (BCCL/K K Choudhary)

Rahul plays santoor, a type of hammered dulcimer whose strings are struck with a pair of light carved wooden mallets. (BCCL/K K Choudhary)

Amitabh Bachchan unveiled Rahul Sharma and pianist Richard Clayderman’s album at the J W Marriott in Mumbai.  (BCCL/K K Choudhary)

Santoor player Rahul Sharma during the Kalidas Mahotsava 2009 held at Dr. Vasantrao Deshpande Hall, Civil Lines in Nagpur.  (BCCL/Rajesh Bansod)

Rahul Sharma (born 1972) is an Indian classical musician of Hindustani classical music.  (BCCL/K K Choudhary)

He started accompanying his father in concerts in 1996, at the age of 24. (BCCL/Md Ilias)

After studying economics at Mumbai's Mithibai College, Rahul Sharma began performing with his father.  (BCCL/Md Ilias)