Uppalappu Srinivas, renowned Mandolin player of international repute, died early yesterday at a private hospital in Chennai due an ailment following a liver transplant.
Srinivas was 45.
The musician was admitted to the Apollo Hospital here some days back due to a liver problem and died yesterday morning around 9.30, hospital officials said.
The last rites will be performed tomorrow.
His sudden demise shocked fans across the world.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday expressed grief at Srinivas’s death. “The prime minister recalled the mandolin maestro’s dedication and long-standing contribution towards music and added that he will always be remembered,” the prime minister’s office said in a tweet.
Tamil Nadu governor K Rosaiah said: “The death of Mandolin Srinivas has left a void and the Carnatic music world has lost a mandolin genius. I convey my sincere condolences to the bereaved members of the family,” Rosaiah said in his condolence message.
“He mesmerised the audience and had them spellbound by his scintillating performance. The clutches of death have snatched away the life of a great artiste at an early age,” Rosaiah added.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa expressed her shock and said it was Srinivas who popularised the mandolin instrument.
Born on February 28, 1969, in Palakolu, Andhra Pradesh, Srinivas was a child prodigy who gave the mandolin - a western instrument - a permanent status in the Carnatic music world.
A world-renowned musician, Srinivas gave his first public performance in 1978 in Andhra Pradesh and soon he started touring the globe.
In 1983, Srinivas performed at the JazzFest Berlin and later toured Canada, Australia and many other countries. He staged performances with western artist like Michael Brook, John McLaughlin, Nigel Kennedy, Trey Gunn, Michael Nyman and others.
Thanks to his work, he was honoured with prestigious awards like Padma Shri, Sangeet Natak Academy, and Sangeeta Ratna.
