Who was Pandit Birju Maharaj, famous Kathak dancer dead at 83?

Pandit Birju Maharaj, who died of a heart attack Monday, at 83, was born Brijmohan Nath Mishra Maharaj. He was a legendary Indian dancer and master of Kathak. He was a leading exponent of the Kalka-Bindadin Gharana. 

Coming from the Maharaj family of Kathak dancers, Pandit Birju Maharaj’s uncles include Shambhu Maharaj and Lachhu Maharaj. His father and guru was Acchan Maharaj. 

He was also a practitioner of Hindustani classical music and a vocalist. Pandit Birju Maharaj showed considerable command over Thumri, Dadra, Bhajan and Ghazl.

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As someone who could play almost all percussion instruments with ease, Pandit Birju Maharaj, fondly known as Pandit-ji or Maharaj-ji, by his followers and fans, favoured playing the Tabla and Naal. 

Pandit-ji was known for being a great storyteller whose performances were marked with personal incidents and were narrated in a way that enraptured and captivated the audience. As a keenly observant individual, Pandit-ji’s performances would often make a statement about everyday incidents, as he entertained viewers with great imitations and detailed descriptions. 

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Born to a family of Kathak dancers, Pandit-ji initially started learning from his father, until the time of his death. Then, his uncles took over the tutelage. Pandit-ji’s style itself drew from the best aspects of his father’s and uncles’ performances, and he made his mark with gesturing and perfect rhythm. In Pandit-ji’s own words, his precise footwork was a result of rigorous training with his father, while the stylized movements were largely things he learnt from his uncles. 

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At the age of 28, the prodigious talent won the coveted Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, from India’s national academy of music, arts, and dance. He has also received the country’s second-highest civilian honour, the Padma Vibhushan. 

As a choreographer par excellence, Pandit Birju Maharaj popularized dance dramas. Apart from touring extensively, the Kathak maestro also composed the music and also sang for two classical dance sequences in Satyajit Ray’s 1977  movie, ‘Shatranj ke Khilari’ or ‘The Chess Players’.