Birju Maharaj, a renowned Indian dancer, was a prodigy in the Kalka-Bindadin gharana of Kathak dance. From a young age, he displayed exceptional talent and dedication, reciting complex tihais and tukras as a toddler. Despite the tragic loss of his father, Birju Maharaj continued his training under his talented uncles and soon became a respected dance teacher. He later became the Head of Faculty and director at the prestigious Kathak Kendra before retiring and establishing his own dance school, Kalashram. Additionally, he contributed to Bollywood by choreographing Kathak dance sequences in movies.
Quick Facts
- Indian Celebrities Born In February Also Known As: Brijmohan Mishra, Pandit Birju Maharaj
- Died At Age: 83
- Family: father: Acchan Maharaj, mother: Amma ji Maharaj, children: Deepak Maharaj, Jaikishan Maharaj, Mamta Maharaj
- Born Country: India
- Choreographers
- Classical Dancers
- Height: 5’4″ (163 cm), 5’4″ Males
- Died on: January 16, 2022
- Place of death: Delhi
- City: Varanasi, India
- Awards:
- 2013 – National Film Award for Best Choreography – Vishwaroopam
- Filmfare Award for Best Choreography 2016 – Bajirao Mastani
- 1964 – Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Dance – Kathak
Childhood & Early Life
Pandit Birju Maharaj, born on 4 February 1938 in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India, came from a family of well-established Kathak dancers. His father, Jagannath Maharaj, also known as Acchan Maharaj of Lucknow Gharana, served as a court dancer in the Raigarh princely state. Birju Maharaj developed a love for dancing at a young age and began performing alongside his father. He traveled with his father to various musical conferences across India, visiting cities like Kanpur, Allahabad, Gorakhpur, Jaunpur, Dehradun, Madhubani, Kolkata, and Mumbai.
Training and Unique Style
Tragedy struck the family when Birju Maharaj’s father passed away when he was just nine years old. He then began training with his uncles, Shambhu and Lacchu Maharaj, who were renowned dance masters. Through their guidance, Birju Maharaj developed a unique style of his own, incorporating elements from both his uncles and his father. He inherited the precision of footwork and the play of the face and neck from his father, while the stylized fluidity of movement came from his uncles.
Career and Contributions
Birju Maharaj started teaching dance at the age of 13 at Sangeet Bharti in New Delhi. He later moved to Bharatiya Kala Kendra in Delhi and eventually became the Head of Faculty and Director at the Kathak Kendra, a unit of the Sangeet Natak Akademi. After retiring from the Kathak Kendra in 1998, he established his own dance school called Kalashram. As a dance teacher, he believed in continuous learning and considered classical dance as a way to connect with the divine. He emphasized the importance of singing, knowledge of musical instruments, meditation, and yoga for dancers, especially in the Kathak dance form.
Apart from teaching, Birju Maharaj also worked as a choreographer in Bollywood films. He composed music, sang, and choreographed dance sequences in movies like Satyajit Ray’s “Shatranj ke Khilari,” “Dedh Ishqiya,” “Umrao Jaan,” and Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s “Bajirao Mastani.” He was not only a dancer and choreographer but also an accomplished singer and instrumentalist, known for his renditions of thumris and dadras.
Major Works and Achievements
Birju Maharaj was the leading exponent of the Lucknow Kalka-Bindadin gharana of Kathak dance. He founded Kalashram, a dance school in Delhi that focuses on imparting training in Kathak and associated disciplines. Through his choreography, he aimed to showcase the appeal, interest, and dignity of classical dance to the audience.
His contributions to the field of dance were recognized with several prestigious awards and honors. He received the Padma Vibhushan in 1986, the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, the Kalidas Samman, and the Lata Mangeshkar Puraskaar in 2002.
Personal Life and Legacy
Birju Maharaj had five children, three daughters, and two sons. Mamta Maharaj, Deepak Maharaj, and Jai Kishan Maharaj, his children, are also noted Kathak dancers in their own right. Sadly, Birju Maharaj passed away on 17 January 2022, at the age of 83, due to a heart attack at his residence in Delhi.