Birju Maharaj: Difference between revisions

What links here Related changes Page information Get shortened URL
Created by 2405:204:A702:BF89:7F74:A2BA:B31:4953
Last edited July 1, 2022
← Older edit
VisualWikitext
imported>Billjones94
No edit summary
UpdateBot (talk | contribs)
Bots
22,126 edits
m robot: Update article (please report if you notice any mistake or error in this edit)
 
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|Indian dancer}}
{{Short description|Indian dancer, singer, and composer (1938–2022)}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Infobox musical artist
{{Infobox musical artist
| honorific_prefix =  
| honorific_prefix =  
| name            = Birju Maharaj
| name            = Birju Maharaj
| image            = Pandit Birju Maharaj.jpg
| image            = Pandit Birju Maharaj.jpg
| birth_name      =  
| caption          = Maharaj performing in [[Pune]], April 2012
| alias            =  
| birth_name      = Brijmohan Nath Mishra
| birth_date      = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1938|2|4}}
| birth_date      = {{birth date|df=yes|1938|02|04}}
| birth_place      = [[Handia, Uttar Pradesh|Handia]], [[United Provinces (1937-50)|United Provinces]], [[British India]]
| birth_place      = [[Handia, Uttar Pradesh|Handia]], [[United Provinces (1937-50)|United Provinces]], [[British Raj]]<br>{{small|(present-day [[Handia, Uttar Pradesh|Handia]], [[Allahabad]] District, [[Uttar Pradesh]], India)}}
| death_date       =  
| death_date      = {{death date and age|df=yes|2022|01|16|1938|02|04}}
| death_place      = [[Delhi]], India
| occupation       = {{hlist|[[Dance]]r|[[Composer]]|[[Singer]]}}
| years_active    = 1951–2016
| genre            = [[Hindustani classical music|Indian classical]]
| genre            = [[Hindustani classical music|Indian classical]]
| occupation      = Dancer, [[composer]], singer
| instrument      =  
| instrument      =  
| years_active    = 1951{{endash}}present
| label            =  
| label            =  
| associated_acts  =  
| associated_acts  =  
| website          = {{url|birjumaharaj-kalashram.com}}
| website          = {{URL|birjumaharaj-kalashram.com|Webpage}}
}}
| module          = {{Infobox person|embed=yes
| nationality      = [[Indian people|Indian]]
| relatives        = {{ubl|
Acchan Maharaj (father) | [[Shambhu Maharaj]] (uncle)|[[Lachhu Maharaj]] (uncle)}}
}}}}


'''Brijmohan Mishra,''' (born 4 February 1938), popularly known as '''Pandit Birju Maharaj''', is an exponent of the [[Lucknow]] ''Kalka-Bindadin'' [[gharana]] of [[Kathak]] dance in [[India]]. He is a descendant of the Maharaj family of [[Kathak]] dancers, which includes his two uncles, [[Shambhu Maharaj]] and [[Lachhu Maharaj]], and his father and guru, Acchan Maharaj. Even though dancing is his first love, he practices [[Hindustani classical music]] and is a vocalist.<ref name=enc>{{cite book|last=Kaui|first=Banotsarg-Boghaz |editor=Subodh Kapoor|title=The Indian encyclopaedia: biographical, historical, religious, administrative, ethnological, commercial and scientific. Volume 3|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bfyA327hG8EC&q=Kathak+Kendra&pg=PA915|year=2002|publisher=Genesis Publishing|isbn=81-7755-257-0|page=198}}</ref>
'''Pandit Birju Maharaj''' (born '''Brijmohan Nath Mishra'''; 4 February 1938 – 16 January 2022) was an Indian dancer, composer, singer and exponent of the [[Lucknow gharana|Lucknow "Kalka-Bindadin" Gharana]] of [[Kathak]] dance in India. He was a descendant of the Maharaj family of [[Kathak]] dancers, which includes his two uncles, [[Shambhu Maharaj]] and [[Lachhu Maharaj]], and his father and guru, Acchan Maharaj. He also practised [[Hindustani classical music]] and was a vocalist.<ref name=enc>{{cite book|last=Kaui|first=Banotsarg-Boghaz |editor=Subodh Kapoor|title=The Indian encyclopaedia: biographical, historical, religious, administrative, ethnological, commercial and scientific. Volume 3|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bfyA327hG8EC&q=Kathak+Kendra&pg=PA915|year=2002|publisher=Genesis Publishing|isbn=81-7755-257-0|page=198}}</ref> After working along with his uncle, [[Shambhu Maharaj]] at Bhartiya Kala Kendra, later the [[Kathak Kendra]], [[New Delhi]], he remained head of the latter, for several years, till his retirement in 1998 when he opened his own dance school, ''Kalashram'', also in Delhi.<ref>[[#Ma|Massey, p. 29]]</ref>


After working along with his uncle, [[Shambhu Maharaj]] at Bhartiya Kala Kendra, later the [[Kathak Kendra]], [[New Delhi]], he remained head of the latter, for several years, till his retirement in 1998 when he opened his own dance school, ''Kalashram'', also in Delhi.<ref>[[#Ma|Massey, p. 29]]</ref>
Birju Maharaj was a recipient of the [[Padma Vibhushan]], India's second highest civilian honor, in 1986.


==Early life and background==
==Early life==
Birju Maharaj was born in the house of Kathak exponent, Jagannath Maharaj, popularly known as Acchan Maharaj of [[Lucknow]] [[Gharana]], who served as court dancer in [[Raigarh State|Raigarh]] princely state.<ref>[http://maestroesclassicaldancers.weebly.com/achchan-maharaj.html Achchan Maharaj]</ref> Birju was trained by his uncles, [[Lachhu Maharaj]] and [[Shambhu Maharaj]] and his father, and he gave his first recital at the age of seven. On 20 May 1947, his father died when he was nine.<ref name="life">{{cite web|title=Birju Maharaj – Kathak personified |work=Deccan Herald|author=Buddhiraja, Sunita |url=http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/mar072004/sh6.asp |access-date=25 March 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041210171521/http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/mar072004/sh6.asp |archive-date=10 December 2004 }}
Maharaj was born Brijmohan Nath Mishra, on 4 February 1937<ref>{{cite web|date=18 January 2022|title=How Pandit Birju Maharaj always stayed alive to sights, sounds, and sentiments of the present-Art-and-culture News , Firstpost|url=https://www.firstpost.com/art-and-culture/how-pandit-birju-maharaj-always-stayed-alive-to-sights-sounds-and-sentiments-of-the-present-10295401.html|access-date=19 January 2022|website=Firstpost|language=en}}</ref> into a [[Hindu]] [[Brahmin]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/dancing-her-way-through-life-grooming-others-too/story-AX10uL5xyCYFD0h90NUNOM.html|title = Dancing her way through life & grooming others too|date = 29 April 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.birjumaharaj-kalashram.com/pt-birju-maharaj.html | title=Pt. Birju Maharaj }}</ref> family at [[Handia, Uttar Pradesh|Handia]] of [[Allahabad]] district. His father was the Kathak exponent, Jagannath Maharaj, popularly known as Acchan Maharaj of [[Lucknow gharana]] and the Kalka-Bindadin family in Lucknow.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> His father served as the court dancer in [[Raigarh State|Raigarh]] princely state.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|title=All Time Great Classical Dancers - Achchan Maharaj|url=https://maestroesclassicaldancers.weebly.com/achchan-maharaj.html|access-date=19 January 2022|website=maestroesclassicaldancers.weebly.com}}</ref> Maharaj started dancing early at the age of four, and was trained by his uncles, [[Lachhu Maharaj]] and [[Shambhu Maharaj]] and his father. He started his performances first at his father's concerts before performing solo at the age of seven in West Bengal.<ref name=":1" /><ref name="life">{{cite web|author=Buddhiraja, Sunita|title=Birju Maharaj – Kathak personified|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/mar072004/sh6.asp|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041210171521/http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/mar072004/sh6.asp|archive-date=10 December 2004|access-date=25 March 2007|work=Deccan Herald}}
</ref>
</ref> His father died when Maharaj was nine.<ref name=":1">{{cite web|date=18 January 2022|title=Pt Birju Maharaj, storyteller who blurred gender norms to become one of the foremost masters of Kathak, passes away at 83|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/art-and-culture/legendary-kathak-dancer-birju-maharaj-dead-7727026/|access-date=19 January 2022|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref>


==Career==
==Career==
Maharaj started teaching the dance form at the age of thirteen, at the Sangeet Bharti in [[New Delhi]]. He then taught at the Bharatiya Kala Kendra in Delhi, and at the [[Kathak Kendra]] (a unit of the [[Sangeet Natak Akademi]]) where he was Head of Faculty, and director, retiring in 1998<ref name="retires">{{cite web
Maharaj started teaching the dance form at the age of thirteen, at the Sangeet Bharti in [[New Delhi]]. He then taught at the Bharatiya Kala Kendra in Delhi, and at the [[Kathak Kendra]] (a unit of the [[Sangeet Natak Akademi]]) where he was Head of Faculty, and director, retiring in 1998<ref name="retires">{{cite web |title=Birju Maharaj retires |publisher=Indian Express |author=Bhattacharya, Santwana |url=http://www.expressindia.com/ie/daily/19980610/16151124.html |access-date=25 March 2007}}
  | title = Birju Maharaj retires
</ref> after which he opened his own dance school, ''Kalashram'', also in Delhi.<ref name=":1" />
  | publisher = Indian Express
 
  | author = Bhattacharya, Santwana
In addition to performing the [[Kathak]] dance form, he also brought along knowledge of [[Hindustani classical music]] and [[Percussion instrument|percussion instruments]]. He was noted to have been able to sing the ''[[thumri]]'' while dancing to it, and also playing instruments like the ''[[tabla]]'' and the ''[[dholak]]''. His Kathak performances in addition to mythological stories had contemporary elements including stories from daily life and social issues being communicated by way of the dance.<ref name=":1" /> His ''ginti ki tihaais'' ({{Translation|a charged and percussive phrase, repeated thrice to end with explosive effect}}) were noted to have been studied by Kathak students. He collaborated with other artists including the tabla player [[Zakir Hussain (musician)|Zakir Hussain]], and singers [[Rajan and Sajan Mishra]].<ref name=":1" /> Some of his students included [[Saswati Sen|Priti Singh, Saswati Sen]], [[Aditi Mangaldas]], and [[Nisha Mahajan]].<ref name=":1" />
  | url = http://www.expressindia.com/ie/daily/19980610/16151124.html
 
  | access-date = 25 March 2007}}
Maharaj also choreographed and composed music for many Indian movies. Some of the performances that he choreographed included for Saswati Sen in [[Satyajit Ray]]'s ''[[The Chess Players (film)|Shatranj ke Khiladi]]'' (1977), [[Madhuri Dixit]] in ''[[Dil To Pagal Hai]]'' (1997) and [[Devdas (2002 Hindi film)|''Devdas'']] (2002), [[Kamal Haasan]] in ''[[Vishwaroopam]]'' (2012), [[Deepika Padukone]] in ''[[Bajirao Mastani]]'' (2015) and [[Alia Bhatt]] in ''[[Kalank]]'' (2019).<ref name=":1" /> His choreography for Kamal Hassan in ''Vishwaroopam'' won him the [[National Film Award for Best Choreography]] in 2012,<ref name="60thaward" /> while his choreography for Deepika Padukone in ''Bajirao Mastani'' won him a [[Filmfare Award for Best Choreography]] in 2016.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Birju Maharaj Awards: List of awards and nominations received by Birju Maharaj {{!}} Times of India Entertainment|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Birju-Maharaj/awards|access-date=19 January 2022|website=timesofindia.indiatimes.com}}</ref>
</ref> after which he opened his own dance school, ''Kalashram'', also in Delhi. He composed the music, and sang, for two dance sequences in the [[Satyajit Ray]]'s [[Shatranj ke Khilari]], and choreographed the song ''Kaahe Chhed Mohe'' from the [[Devdas (2002 Hindi film)|2002 film version]] of novella ''[[Devdas]]''.<ref>{{IMDb name|1195424}}</ref>
 
Maharaj was one of the youngest artists to receive the [[Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]], when he received the award at the age of 28. He also received the [[Padma Vibhushan]], India's second highest civilian award, in 1986.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=17 January 2022|title=Pandit Birju Maharaj passes away: A pictorial tribute to the legendary Kathak maestro|url=https://indianexpress.com/photos/lifestyle-gallery/pandit-birju-maharaj-passes-away-pictorial-tribute-legendary-kathak-maestro-7727106/|access-date=19 January 2022|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref>
 
==Personal life==
Maharaj was married and had five children<ref>{{Cite web|date=17 January 2022|title=Pandit Birju Maharaj passes away: A pictorial tribute to the legendary Kathak maestro|url=https://indianexpress.com/photos/lifestyle-gallery/pandit-birju-maharaj-passes-away-pictorial-tribute-legendary-kathak-maestro-7727106/|access-date=19 January 2022|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref> (2 sons and 3 daughters). In later life, Maharaj had [[kidney disease]] and [[diabetes]], and received [[dialysis]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=PTI|date=17 January 2022|title=Birju Maharaj, legendary Kathak dancer, dies at 84|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/birju-maharaj-legendary-kathak-dancer-dies-at-84/article38280797.ece|access-date=17 January 2022|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> He died from a heart attack at his residence in Delhi, on 16 January 2022, less than a month before his 84th birthday.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Pandit Birju Maharaj, Legendary Kathak Dancer, Dies At 84|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/pandit-birju-maharaj-legendary-kathak-dancer-dies-of-heart-attack-at-the-age-of-84-2711892|access-date=18 January 2022|website=NDTV.com}}</ref>
 
== Controversy ==
After his death, several Kathak performers accused Maharaj of sexual abuse. Some of the accusers were minors at the time of the alleged abuse.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Joshi|first=Prajakta|date=2022-01-27|title=Indie Journal {{!}} Several sexual harassment allegations rock the world of Kathak|url=https://www.indiejournal.in/article/several-sexual-harassment-allegations-rock-the-world-of-kathak|access-date=2022-01-29|website=IndieJournal|language=en}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web|date=January 25, 2022|title=Pandit Birju Maharaj MeToo Allegations Surface On Social Media Post His Death|url=https://www.shethepeople.tv/news/pandit-birju-maharaj-metoo-allegations-on-social-media/|access-date=2022-01-29|website=SheThePeople.TV|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Srikanth|first=Kavya|date=January 21, 2022|title=The Doyen of Kathak, Pandit Birju Maharaj|url=https://www.thejuggernaut.com/pandit-birju-maharaj-indian-kathak-dancer-obituary|access-date=2022-01-29|website=The Juggernaut|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Why did #MeToo not reach the Indian classical arts?|url=https://www.mid-day.com/sunday-mid-day/article/why-did-metoo-not-reach-the-indian-classical-arts-23211953|access-date=2022-01-30|website=mid-day.com|date=30 January 2022 |language=en-US}}</ref>


==Awards and honours==
==Awards and honours==
* 1964 - [[Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]]
* 1964 - [[Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]]
* 1986 - [[Padma Vibhushan]]<ref name="Off" />
* 1986 - [[Padma Vibhushan]]<ref name="Off" />
* 1986 - Nritya Choodamani Award by Sri Krishna Gana Sabha<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://krishnaganasabha.org/kgs_old/nrityachoo.html |title=Nritya Choodamani Awardees List |website=Sri Krishna Gana Sabha |access-date=2019-07-22}}</ref>
* 1986 - Nritya Choodamani Award by Sri Krishna Gana Sabha<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://krishnaganasabha.org/kgs_old/nrityachoo.html |title=Nritya Choodamani Awardees List |website=Sri Krishna Gana Sabha |access-date=22 July 2019}}</ref>
* 1987 - [[Kalidas Samman]]
* 1987 - [[Kalidas Samman]]
* 2002 - [[Lata Mangeshkar]] Puraskar<ref name="CI">{{Cite web |url=https://www.culturalindia.net/indian-dance/dancers/pandit-birju-maharaj.html |title=Pandit Birju Maharaj |website=www.culturalindia.net |access-date=2019-07-22}}</ref>
* 2002 - [[Lata Mangeshkar]] Puraskar<ref name="CI">{{Cite web |url=https://www.culturalindia.net/indian-dance/dancers/pandit-birju-maharaj.html |title=Pandit Birju Maharaj |website=www.culturalindia.net |access-date=22 July 2019}}</ref>
* [[Honorary doctorate]] from [[Indira Kala Sangeet Vishwavidyalaya]]<ref name="CI" /><ref name="Off">{{Cite web |url=http://www.birjumaharaj-kalashram.com/the-dancer.html |title=The Dancer |website=Official website |access-date=2019-07-22}}</ref>
* [[Honorary doctorate]] from [[Indira Kala Sangeet Vishwavidyalaya]]<ref name="CI" /><ref name="Off">{{Cite web |url=http://www.birjumaharaj-kalashram.com/the-dancer.html |title=The Dancer |website=Official website |access-date=22 July 2019}}</ref>
* Honorary doctorate from [[Banaras Hindu University]]<ref name="CI" />
* Honorary doctorate from [[Banaras Hindu University]]<ref name="CI" />
* Sangam Kala Award<ref name="CI" />
* Sangam Kala Award<ref name="CI" />
Line 53: Line 65:
* National Nritya Shiromani Award<ref name="Off" />
* National Nritya Shiromani Award<ref name="Off" />
* [[Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award]]<ref name="Off" />
* [[Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award]]<ref name="Off" />
===Film Awards===
===Film ===


* 2012 - [[National Film Award for Best Choreography]] for ''Unnai Kaanaathu'' ([[Vishwaroopam]])<ref name="60thaward">{{cite press release|title=60th National Film Awards Announced|url=http://pib.nic.in/archieve/others/2013/mar/d2013031801.pdf|publisher=Press Information Bureau (PIB), India|access-date=18 March 2013}}</ref>
* 2012 - [[National Film Award for Best Choreography]] for ''Unnai Kaanaathu'' ([[Vishwaroopam]])<ref name="60thaward">{{cite press release|title=60th National Film Awards Announced|url=http://pib.nic.in/archieve/others/2013/mar/d2013031801.pdf|publisher=Press Information Bureau (PIB), India|access-date=18 March 2013}}</ref>
* 2016 - [[Filmfare Award for Best Choreography]] for ''Mohe Rang Do Laal'' ([[Bajirao Mastani]])
* 2016 - [[Filmfare Award for Best Choreography]] for ''Mohe Rang Do Laal'' ([[Bajirao Mastani]])<ref name=":2" />


==See also==
==See also==
Line 78: Line 90:
{{DEFAULTSORT:Maharaj, Birju}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Maharaj, Birju}}
[[Category:1938 births]]
[[Category:1938 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:2022 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian dancers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian educators]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Vibhushan in arts]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Vibhushan in arts]]
[[Category:Kathak exponents]]
[[Category:Kathak exponents]]
Line 90: Line 104:
[[Category:Indian classical choreographers]]
[[Category:Indian classical choreographers]]
[[Category:Dancers from Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Dancers from Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian dancers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian educators]]
[[Category:Educators from Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Educators from Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Filmfare Awards winners]]
[[Category:Filmfare Awards winners]]
[[Category:Best Choreography National Film Award winners]]
[[Category:Best Choreography National Film Award winners]]

Latest revision as of 22:15, 1 July 2022


Birju Maharaj
Maharaj performing in Pune, April 2012
Maharaj performing in Pune, April 2012
Background information
Birth nameBrijmohan Nath Mishra
Born(1938-02-04)4 February 1938
Handia, United Provinces, British Raj
(present-day Handia, Allahabad District, Uttar Pradesh, India)
Died16 January 2022(2022-01-16) (aged 83)
Delhi, India
GenresIndian classical
Occupation(s)
Years active1951–2016
WebsiteWebpage
NationalityIndian
Relatives
2=

Pandit Birju Maharaj (born Brijmohan Nath Mishra; 4 February 1938 – 16 January 2022) was an Indian dancer, composer, singer and exponent of the Lucknow "Kalka-Bindadin" Gharana of Kathak dance in India. He was a descendant of the Maharaj family of Kathak dancers, which includes his two uncles, Shambhu Maharaj and Lachhu Maharaj, and his father and guru, Acchan Maharaj. He also practised Hindustani classical music and was a vocalist.[1] After working along with his uncle, Shambhu Maharaj at Bhartiya Kala Kendra, later the Kathak Kendra, New Delhi, he remained head of the latter, for several years, till his retirement in 1998 when he opened his own dance school, Kalashram, also in Delhi.[2]

Birju Maharaj was a recipient of the Padma Vibhushan, India's second highest civilian honor, in 1986.

Early life[edit | edit source]

Maharaj was born Brijmohan Nath Mishra, on 4 February 1937[3] into a Hindu Brahmin[4][5] family at Handia of Allahabad district. His father was the Kathak exponent, Jagannath Maharaj, popularly known as Acchan Maharaj of Lucknow gharana and the Kalka-Bindadin family in Lucknow.[6][7] His father served as the court dancer in Raigarh princely state.[6] Maharaj started dancing early at the age of four, and was trained by his uncles, Lachhu Maharaj and Shambhu Maharaj and his father. He started his performances first at his father's concerts before performing solo at the age of seven in West Bengal.[7][8] His father died when Maharaj was nine.[7]

Career[edit | edit source]

Maharaj started teaching the dance form at the age of thirteen, at the Sangeet Bharti in New Delhi. He then taught at the Bharatiya Kala Kendra in Delhi, and at the Kathak Kendra (a unit of the Sangeet Natak Akademi) where he was Head of Faculty, and director, retiring in 1998[9] after which he opened his own dance school, Kalashram, also in Delhi.[7]

In addition to performing the Kathak dance form, he also brought along knowledge of Hindustani classical music and percussion instruments. He was noted to have been able to sing the thumri while dancing to it, and also playing instruments like the tabla and the dholak. His Kathak performances in addition to mythological stories had contemporary elements including stories from daily life and social issues being communicated by way of the dance.[7] His ginti ki tihaais (transl. a charged and percussive phrase, repeated thrice to end with explosive effect) were noted to have been studied by Kathak students. He collaborated with other artists including the tabla player Zakir Hussain, and singers Rajan and Sajan Mishra.[7] Some of his students included Priti Singh, Saswati Sen, Aditi Mangaldas, and Nisha Mahajan.[7]

Maharaj also choreographed and composed music for many Indian movies. Some of the performances that he choreographed included for Saswati Sen in Satyajit Ray's Shatranj ke Khiladi (1977), Madhuri Dixit in Dil To Pagal Hai (1997) and Devdas (2002), Kamal Haasan in Vishwaroopam (2012), Deepika Padukone in Bajirao Mastani (2015) and Alia Bhatt in Kalank (2019).[7] His choreography for Kamal Hassan in Vishwaroopam won him the National Film Award for Best Choreography in 2012,[10] while his choreography for Deepika Padukone in Bajirao Mastani won him a Filmfare Award for Best Choreography in 2016.[11]

Maharaj was one of the youngest artists to receive the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, when he received the award at the age of 28. He also received the Padma Vibhushan, India's second highest civilian award, in 1986.[7][12]

Personal life[edit | edit source]

Maharaj was married and had five children[13] (2 sons and 3 daughters). In later life, Maharaj had kidney disease and diabetes, and received dialysis.[14] He died from a heart attack at his residence in Delhi, on 16 January 2022, less than a month before his 84th birthday.[15]

Controversy[edit | edit source]

After his death, several Kathak performers accused Maharaj of sexual abuse. Some of the accusers were minors at the time of the alleged abuse.[16] [17][18][19]

Awards and honours[edit | edit source]

Film[edit | edit source]

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Kaui, Banotsarg-Boghaz (2002). Subodh Kapoor (ed.). The Indian encyclopaedia: biographical, historical, religious, administrative, ethnological, commercial and scientific. Volume 3. Genesis Publishing. p. 198. ISBN 81-7755-257-0.
  2. ↑ Massey, p. 29
  3. ↑ "How Pandit Birju Maharaj always stayed alive to sights, sounds, and sentiments of the present-Art-and-culture News , Firstpost". Firstpost. 18 January 2022. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  4. ↑ "Dancing her way through life & grooming others too". 29 April 2006.
  5. ↑ "Pt. Birju Maharaj".
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "All Time Great Classical Dancers - Achchan Maharaj". maestroesclassicaldancers.weebly.com. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 7.8 "Pt Birju Maharaj, storyteller who blurred gender norms to become one of the foremost masters of Kathak, passes away at 83". The Indian Express. 18 January 2022. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  8. ↑ Buddhiraja, Sunita. "Birju Maharaj – Kathak personified". Deccan Herald. Archived from the original on 10 December 2004. Retrieved 25 March 2007.
  9. ↑ Bhattacharya, Santwana. "Birju Maharaj retires". Indian Express. Retrieved 25 March 2007.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "60th National Film Awards Announced" (PDF) (Press release). Press Information Bureau (PIB), India. Retrieved 18 March 2013.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Birju Maharaj Awards: List of awards and nominations received by Birju Maharaj | Times of India Entertainment". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  12. ↑ "Pandit Birju Maharaj passes away: A pictorial tribute to the legendary Kathak maestro". The Indian Express. 17 January 2022. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  13. ↑ "Pandit Birju Maharaj passes away: A pictorial tribute to the legendary Kathak maestro". The Indian Express. 17 January 2022. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  14. ↑ PTI (17 January 2022). "Birju Maharaj, legendary Kathak dancer, dies at 84". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  15. ↑ "Pandit Birju Maharaj, Legendary Kathak Dancer, Dies At 84". NDTV.com. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  16. ↑ Joshi, Prajakta (27 January 2022). "Indie Journal | Several sexual harassment allegations rock the world of Kathak". IndieJournal. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  17. ↑ "Pandit Birju Maharaj MeToo Allegations Surface On Social Media Post His Death". SheThePeople.TV. 25 January 2022. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  18. ↑ Srikanth, Kavya (21 January 2022). "The Doyen of Kathak, Pandit Birju Maharaj". The Juggernaut. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  19. ↑ "Why did #MeToo not reach the Indian classical arts?". mid-day.com. 30 January 2022. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 20.4 20.5 20.6 20.7 "The Dancer". Official website. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  21. ↑ "Nritya Choodamani Awardees List". Sri Krishna Gana Sabha. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 "Pandit Birju Maharaj". www.culturalindia.net. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  23. ↑ "Hema Malini selected for Bharat Muni Samman – Hindustan Times". hindustantimes.com. 2012. Archived from the original on 13 December 2012. Retrieved 28 December 2012. The earlier recipients are Thankamani Kutty, Pandit Birju Maharaj,
  24. ↑ "Hema Malini receives Bharat Muni Samman: Wonder Woman – Who are you today?". wonderwoman.intoday.in. 2012. Retrieved 28 December 2012. The earlier recipients are Thankamani Kutty (Bharatanatyam), Pandit Birju Maharaj (kathak),

External links[edit | edit source]

Template:National Film Award Best Choreography

Retrieved from "https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Birju_Maharaj&oldid=336325"
Discover more