Digital Desk: Renowned Kathak dancer Pandit Birju Maharaj has passed away reportedly due to a heart attack in his Delhi home, news agency ANI has reported citing his relative. He was 83.
Birju Maharaj was a member of the legendary Lucknow's Kalka-Bindadin Gharana.
He was born Brij Mohan Nath Mishra into a well-known Kathak dancing family on February 4th 1937. He was moulded by the influence of Bindadeen Maharaj, in addition to his father Achchan Maharaj and uncles Shambhu and Lachchu Maharaj.
He began performing with his father when he was a child, and in his teens, he became a Guru (Maharaj). Pt. Birju Maharaj also performed in Rampur Nawab's durbar.
Birju Maharaj's mastery of the dance genre had earned him the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Award by the time he was 28.
Pandit Birju Maharaj established his own style, known for his excellent rhythm, expressive abhinaya, or gesture language. In addition, he was noted for being a superb choreographer who popularised dance dramas.
Pandit Birju Maharaj received various awards and accolades for his contributions to the performing arts, including the Padma Vibhushan, one of the country's highest civilian honours, in 1986.
The renowned Kathak dancer is known to choreograph some of the masterpieces of bollywood, including Devdas's Kahe Ched Ched Mohe, Bajirao Mastani's Mohe Rang Do Lal, and many others more. The world of cinema is known to approach this maestro whenever they needed some exquisite kathak dance in their films.
Pt. Birju Maharaj is a father to five children, three daughters and two sons.
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