Pandit Birju Maharaj, the celebrated Kathak dancer and composer, died in the early hours of Monday in Delhi. He was 83.
The dancer’s grandson, Swaransh Mishra, shared the news of his demise on social media.
His granddaughter Ragini Maharaj told ANI that Maharaj had been under treatment for the past month. “He had sudden breathlessness at around 12:15 – 12:30 am last night,” she said, adding that he passed away despite being taken to a hospital within 10 minutes.
Also a Hindustani classical musician and vocalist, Maharaj was born in a family of Kathak dancers of the Lucknow Kalka-Bindadin Gharana, which includes his two uncles, Shambhu Maharaj and Lachhu Maharaj, and his father and guru, Acchan Maharaj. He began teaching Kathak at the age of 13, and later went on to open his own dance school ‘Kalashram’ in Delhi.
Maharaj’s contributions to Indian cinema include the two dance sequences he composed music and sang for in the Satyajit Ray directorial Shatranj ke Khilari, and his choreography for the song Kaahe Chhed Mohe in the 2002 Hindi film Devdas. He also won the National Award for Best Choreography for the song Unnai Kaanaathu (Vishwaroopam) in 2012.
He was a recipient of several other accolades too such as the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, the Sangam Kala Award, and Kalidas Samman. Maharaj was conferred the prestigious Padma Vibhushan by the Indian government in 1986.
Several celebrities and members of the film fraternity took to social media to pay their respects to the late dancer following the news of his demise.
Actor Madhuri Dixit Nene, who worked with Maharaj on Devdas, wrote about the lessons she learnt from him. “He was a legend but had a child-like innocence. He was my guru but also my friend. He taught me the intricacies of dance and abhinay but never failed to make me laugh at his funny anecdotes.”
“He has left behind grieving fans and students, but also left a legacy we will all carry forward. Thank you Maharajji for everything you taught me in dance along with humility, elegance and grace,” she further wrote.
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Actor Hema Malini took to Twitter and said, “The nation mourns the passing of a true legend, Shri Birju Maharaj, Kathak exponent par excellence. His ghungroos were on his ankles till he breathed his last. I always admired and respected him as a giant of the medium of Kathak and will miss his presence on the firmament of dance.”
In a video message, actor Anupam Kher reminisced about meeting Maharaj often during his days at National School of Drama, when the latter used to give Kathak lessons in a neighbouring building, and paid tribute to the late dancer for his contributions to the art form.
Filmmaker Subhash Ghai shared his condolences in an Instagram post. “My first learning from Kathak dance maestro was in my college youth festival when he expressed a romantic conversation between Lord Krishna and Radha through his two eyes,” he wrote, adding that the late dancer has “given the world so much.”
Other celebrities who shared their tributes included musician Adnan Sami, Sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan, cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, actors Kamal Haasan, Kajol Devgn, Yami Gautam Dhar, Sumona Chakravarti, Hrishita Bhatt, and Janhvi Kapoor.
Maharaj is survived by three daughters, two sons, and five grandchildren.