Veteran violinist M S Gopalakrishnan died in Chennai on Thursday following a brief illness.
The 82-year-old artiste was admitted to a private hospital on Wednesday after he complained of breathlessness and passed away in the wee hours, sources close to his family said.
Awarded with the Padma Bhushan among others, Gopalakrishnan's career spanned over seven decades during which he was known for his deep knowledge of Carnatic and Hindustani music.
His contemporaries include Lalgudi G Jayaraman and T N Krishnan.
Gopalakrishnan is survived by wife, two daughters and son.