Vishwanath Shirodkar

Vishwanath Shirodkar studied civil engineering but gave up a promising career in it to devote himself to Hindustani music. Suryakant Naik first taught him tabla. He then spent twelve years learning with Vibhav Nageshkar before taking advanced training with Pandit Suresh Talwalkar. Pandit Nayan Ghosh, the tabla and sitar player, has also guided him in both accompaniment and solo playing.

He is an 'A'-grade artist of All India Radio and has won several prizes for his solo playing. His reputation, however, rests mainly on accompaniment. Basant Bahar describes his playing as seemingly subtle but rich and complex underneath. The Rithwik Foundation lists Ashwini Bhide, Shubha Mudgal, Zarine Daruwala, Ulhas Bapat and Pandit Birju Maharaj among the artists he has played with. He is also one of the few tabla players who regularly accompanies Kathak dancers. He has toured widely abroad with vocalists and instrumentalists.

As a soloist, he played at the 81st Aundh Sangeet Mahotsav in 2021, and Underscore Records lists him among its artists. A series of teaching-style solo videos in tals such as Adachautaal, Yogtaal, Padmadeep and Deepchandi, published by SeemaVishwa Gurukul, shows his command of both common and rare cycles.