Birju Maharaj passes away at 83: Bollywood remembers legendary kathak dancer

Brijmohan Mishra, popularly known as Pandit Birju Maharaj, passed away due to a heart attack. The great Kathak dancer was one of the most famous artists across the world. As soon as the news of Biraj Maharaj’s demise broke out, all the celebs and fans mourned on social media.

Singer Adnan Sami was among the first to share a post. “Extremely saddened by the news of the passing away of great Kathak dancer-Pandit Birju Maharaj. We have lost a unique institution in the field of performing arts. He has influenced generations with his talent. May he rest in peace. #BirjuMaharaj, ” they wrote. Filmmaker Ashok Pandit also shared a note for the veteran dancer.

He tweeted, “Saddened to learn about the passing away of Kathak legend and singer Padma Vibhushan Pandit #birjumaharaj ji after suffering a heart attack in Delhi. It is the end of an era. My heartfelt condolences to his family and close ones. “

Brijmohan Mishra, popularly known as Pandit Birju Maharaj, belonged to the Lucknow Kalka-Bindadin gharana of Kathak dance in India. He was a descendant of the Maharaja family of Kathak dancers. His two uncles, Shambhu Maharaj and Lachhu Maharaj, and his father and mentor, Achchan Maharaj, are also patrons of the area. Birju Maharaj was also known for Hindustani classical music and as a singer.

He gave his first singing at the age of seven. His father died on 20 May 1947 when he was nine years old. Maharaj began teaching dance at the age of thirteen at Sangeet Bharati in New Delhi. He then taught at the Bharatiya Kala Kendra and Kathak Kendra (a unit of the Sangeet Natak Akademi) in Delhi, where he was the faculty head and director, retiring in 1998. He composed the music, and sang for two dances. Scenes in Satyajit Ray’s Shatrunj Ke Khiladi, and choreographed the song Kahe Chhede Mohe from the film version of the 2002 novel Devdas.