Anoor Anantha Krishna Sharma

🪔 About

Anoor Anantha Krishna Sharma, popularly known as 'Shivu', is an eminent Carnatic mridangam artist from Bangalore, Karnataka, India, born on March 29, 1965. He hails from a distinguished family of musicians; his father, Vidwan Anoor R. Ramakrishna, was a renowned violinist and a teacher at Bangalore University. His grandfathers, Anoor S. Shamanna and Anoor Subbaraya Shastri, were acclaimed veena players, and his granduncle, Anoor Suryanarayana, was a vocalist and Nattuvanar. Sharma's musical journey began at the age of thirteen, and he was initiated into mridangam by Vidwan Late Sri R.A. Rajagopal of All India Radio, Bangalore. He started performing professionally at fifteen, around 1980, and has since accompanied numerous leading Carnatic artists, including T.M. Krishna, Jayanthi Kumaresh, M.S. Sheela, and C. Honnappa Bhagavathar. Beyond mridangam, he is also proficient in dolu, tabla, and pakhawaj. His career has seen him travel globally for performances and workshops, and he has composed rhythmic patterns for various ensembles, including "LayaLahari" of Sri Ayyanar College of Music, which he directs. He has also composed music for Sanskrit verses and a traditional Kathak performance. Sharma began teaching in 1981 and has trained many percussion artists. He served as the president of the Karnataka Sangeetha Nruthya Academy. He is the founder of the Anoor Ananthakrishna Sharma Foundation For Music, which aims to foster interaction between performers and aspirants through seminars, workshops, and lecture demonstrations. Awards & Honours: Best Mridangam Artist (1981), Best Mridangam Artist (1996), Ganakala Shri (2005), Asthana Vidwan (2010), Karnataka Kalashri (2018), Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2025), Chowdaiah Award (2025).