Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
Claim
Video shows Pandit Shivkumar’s grandson playing Santoor.
Fact
Kanun Iranian player misidentified as the Santoor Maestro’s grandson.
Several social media users shared a video of a child playing a musical instrument claiming him to be the grandson of legendary Santoor player Pandit Shivkumar Sharma. Newschecker, however, found that an Iranian boy has been falsely identified as the late santoor maestro’s grandson, Abhinav.
Newschecker received the claim on our tipline (+91-9999499044) requesting to be fact checked.
Multiple X and Facebook users have also shared the video identifying the child as Pandit Shivkumar’s grandson. “Pandit Shiv Kumar’s Grandson Abhinav playing Santoor like he was born with the art of playing Santoor !! So beautiful,” users claimed.
Such posts can be seen here, here, here and here.
Also Read: Elephants Running To Safety Before Landslides Hit Wayanad? No, Viral Video Is Old
Fact Check/Verification
A keyword search for “Abhinav,” “Pandit Shiv Kumar Grandson,” and “Santoor” on Google led us to a Hindustan Times report, dated September 5, 2023. “Santoor player started learning from his father, late santoor legend Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, when he was 13. And now, taking the guru-shishya parampara forward with his nine-year-old son, Abhinav, gives Rahul a lot of contentment..,” the report stated.
It also featured a photograph of Rahul Sharma and his son Abhinav playing the instrument.
We also found a YouTube video by Saregama Music from March 2023 featuring the father-son duo. On carefully analysing the video, we could conclude the child seen in the viral footage was not Pandit Shivkumar’s grandson Abhinav.
Following this, we looked up the keyframes of the viral video on Google lens and found an Instagram post by @santour.navazi_, dated May 9, 2024. It featured the same video, and identified the child playing the instrument as user “@yusof_behkar”
We then skimmed through the Instagram profile of @yusof_behkar, and found multiple videos featuring the same child as seen in the viral footage.
The viral footage was also shared on the Instagram profile of @bahman_behkar_kanoun, an “Iranian kanoun player and teacher,” on May 3, 3024. “The song of Benet Al-Shalabieh by the famous Lebanese singer Firouz The name of the song of Al-Bint El-Shalabiyah The song “Shaneh” is based on the daughter of Al-Shalabieh Firouz. The poet of this Persian song is Naser Rostegharnejad,” the post stated. User @yusof_behkar was tagged in the same.
Furthermore, we found the video posted by @dusttodigital, “Presenter of music and sound cultures,” on July 26, 2024. “ Iranian artist @yusof_behkar playing “Al-Bint El-Shalabiyah” on kanun via @bahman_behkar_kanoun,” the post stated.
Also Read: Old, Unrelated Images From Idukki Linked To Recent Landslides In Wayanad
Conclusion
Hence, Iranian artist Yusof Behkar has been falsely identified as legendary Santoor player Pandit Shivkumar Sharma’s grandson Abhinav.
Result: False
Sources
Instagram Post By @santour.navazi_, Dated May 9, 2024
Instagram Profile Of @yusof_behkar
Instagram Post By @bahman_behkar_kanoun, Dated May 3, 2024
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Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
