Share this
Padma Vibhushan Awardee Pandit Birju Maharaj passed away this morning at his home in Delhi. The reason was a sudden heart attack. He was 83 years old and in stable health condition. Just a few days ago his disciple and Nephew Pt. Munna Shukla passed away at the age of 78, after a brief period of illness.
Pandit Birju Maharaj carried the glory of the Indian Katha Dance to all around the world. He is celebrated not only in India but by all the communities around the world that appreciate classical dance forms.
EARLY LIFE
Born on February 4, 1938, he comes from the renowned family of Lucknow; known for their heritage in Kathak Dance. His father ‘Achhan Mahraja’ was a proponent of the classical dance form. Birju Maharaja is the disciple of his father. His birth name is Brijmohan Mishra. His mother was ‘Ammaji Mahraj’.
During his childhood, Birju Mahraj used to accompany his father everywhere: this is when he became fond of the dance form. After the unfortunate death of father ‘Achhan Maharaj,’ the family shifted to Bombay where he continued learning Katha from his uncles Shambhu Maharaj and Lachhu Maharaj.
He gave his first recital at the very young age of 9 years old in 1947.
CAREER
At the age of 13, Birju Maharaj was invited to Delhi as a tutor in Sangeet Bharati. He extended his teaching career in Bharatiya Kala Kendra and lead a teaching team in Kathak Kala, the unit of Sangeet Natak Akademi. He retired as the head of the faculty in 1998 at the age of 60.
Other than being a teacher; he also made his name as a singer and lyricist in Indian classical music forms Ghazal, Thumri, Dadra, Bhajan. He also wrote a few poems and bullet compositions.
Birju Maharaj also composed dance sequences in Hindi films such as ‘Shatranj Ke Khiladi’, in which he also lent his voice. He also choreographed ‘Kahe Chhede Mohe’ songs and movies like ‘Umraon Jaan’, ‘ Dedh Ishqiya’. He also choreographed a song performed by famous south Indian Actor Kamal Hassan in the film ‘Vishwarupam’.
AWARDS
Some honorable mentions from his awards are ‘Padma Vibhushana’, in 1986, ‘Kalidasa Sammaan’ from the government of Madhya Pradesh. He also won the Soviet Land Nehru Award, the Sangeet Natka Akademi Award, and Sangam Kala award. He was awarded Lata Mangeshkar Award in 2002.
In 2012, he received National Film Award for best choreography in Vishwaroopam and Tamil Nadu State Film Award for the same movie. Birju Maharaj begged the Filmfare Award in 2016 for choreography in ‘Bajiraaw Mastani’.
He was honored by an honorary doctorate degree from Khairagarh University and Banaras Hindu University.
THE MYSTIC
Birju Mahara was a devotee of Lord Krishna and it becomes only natural to divulge into the mysticism of nature and spirituality. He keenly observed nature’s dance through the movement of nature like the sweet sound of the wind, rumbling of trees, curves of ocean waves. He believed that dance helps one to connect them with their higher self and with god.
PERSONAL LIFE
He was very passionate about cars, he mentioned in an interview that he would have become a mechanic is not a dancer. He admired gadgets and his favorite time pass was to dismantle gadgets and fix them back.
His favorite actors from Hollywood were Jackie Chan and Sylvester Stallone.
He had five children with his wife whose name is not known publicly. She passed away 15 years ago.
CONTRIBUTION
He was the torchbearer of Kalka Bindadin Gharana. With his legendary Kathak Skills, he mesmerized the audience or the world. It is because of his magnificent skills that Kathak gained the name it has in the world of contemporary and pop dance.
Thanks to him; the classical dance form of Kathak is going to live its years in today’s world.