A Memorable Walk Through The Life Of Pandit Birju Maharaj Ji

Kathak maestro Pandit Birju Maharaj Ji, was a leading name and a torchbearer of the Kathak dance form. He was the only son and the disciple of Shri Achhan Maharaj. Pandit Ji was a leading face of the Kathak dance form around the world. With a glorious career in Kathak, he performed in various countries across the world. He was a wonderful singer and had a strong grip over Thumri, Dadra, Bhajan, and Ghazals. You’d be surprised to know that Pandit Birju Maharaj Ji gave his first stage performance at the age of 7. One of the interesting facts about Birju Maharaj is that he was also a sensitive poet and a confident orator.

Pandit Birju Maharaj Ji always focused on taking Kathak to new heights. Coming from a family of great dancers, he was introduced to the world of Kathak from a very young age. He was well-known for his facial expressions and feet movements. Pandit Birju Maharaj Ji is considered the epitome of Kathak by many people around the globe.

Related Article: Top 8 Indian Classical Dance Styles With Its Origin States

1. Early Childhood

He was born into the family of well-known Kathak performers, Jagannath Maharaj of the Lucknow Gharana. Shri Achhan Maharaj spent most of his time teaching young Birju. He was always seen accompanying his father to cultural events and shows. Apart from his father, Birju Maharaj Ji was also trained by his uncles, Lachhu Maharaj, and Shambhu Maharaj. However, back in 1947, an unfortunate event changed his life forever. When Pandit Birju Maharaj Ji lost his father, his family migrated to Bombay, and he continued his kathak training. When he was 13 years old, he was invited to Delhi to teach children at the Sangeet Bharti.

2. Making Delhi his Home

Pandit Birju Maharaj Ji spent the last decades of his life in the national capital New Delhi. However, this journey of moving from Lucknow and settling down in Delhi was not an easy task. In one of his interviews, he mentioned that he often used to find himself lost in the streets of Delhi. He used to travel down to Regal Cinema and then find his way back home or to his institute.

3. His Life as a Teacher

Pandit Birju Maharaj Ji started teaching Kathak dance when he was just 13 years old. He even headed the team of teachers at the Kathak Kendra. After working as the head of the Faculty at the Kathak Kendra, he retired in 1998.

4. Kalashram- His Dance School

Pandit Birju Maharaj Ji started his own kathak dance school which was known as the Kalashram. For every passionate kathak lover, Kalashram is no less than a dream. The foundation of the school was laid down with the intention to educate students in Kathak. Apart from Kathak dance, the school also offers training in vocal and instrumental music including yoga, painting, Sanskrit, and dramatics. He was a firm believer that a dancer should also have a basic knowledge of music.

5. Pandit Birju Maharaj Ji- Lyricist and Musician

Pandit Birju Maharaj Ji started learning music at the age of 7. He was an excellent singer and had strong control over Thumri, Dadra, Bhajan, and Ghazals. He kept experimenting with new techniques and skills. Moreover, he even tried his hands at writing and wrote a few poems and couplets. He has also written some lyrics for ballet compositions.

6. A Noted Bollywood Personality

Pandit Birju Maharaj Ji was a well-known name in the Bollywood industry. He started his Bollywood career with the movie ‘Shatranj Ke Khilari’, directed by the evergreen and the famous Satyajit Ray. He had composed 2 dance pieces and even lent his voice for the same. In the year 2002, in the film ‘Devdas’, Birju Maharaj had even choreographed the popular song ‘Kaahe Chhed Mohe’.

He also worked as a choreographer in popular movies such as ‘Dedh Ishqiya’, ‘Umrao Jaan’, and ‘Bajirao Mastani’. Birju Maharaj was also a part of the South Indian film industry and made a debut with the song ‘Unnai Kaanatha Naan’ in the Kamal Hassan starrer, ‘Vishwaroopam’.

7. Awards and Laurels Received by Pandit Birju Maharaj Ji

Pandit Birju Maharaj has made some amazing contributions in the field of the Indian film and drama industry. Therefore, for this, he was awarded several awards and honors including the Padma Vibhushan in 1986. He has been the recipient of Kalidas Samman by the Government of Madhya Pradesh. Furthermore, he was also honored with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, Soviet Land Nehru Award, and Sangam Kala Award.

Well, apart from this, he was awarded and honored with the Lata Mangeshkar Puruskar in 2002. To add to this, he was also honored with Doctorate degrees from the Khairagarh University and Banaras Hindu University. In the year 2012, Pandit Birju Maharaj was awarded the National Award for the Best Choreography for the movie ‘Vishwaroopam’. In the year 2016, he was awarded the Filmfare Award for the Best Choreography for the film ‘Bajirao Mastani’. These awards and laurels are just a reflection of Pandit Birju Maharaj’s dedication, persistence, and hard work.

Related Article: Why You Should Invest In Your Kid’s Indian Classical Dance Training

Final Words

With his sudden demise, an era of Kathak dance has come to an end! However, the memories that he has left behind are countless. The entire team of PiggyRide is deeply saddened by the inevitable loss of our beloved Pandit Birju Maharaj Ji! We hope that may the departed soul rest in peace.
Om Shanti!