Birju Maharaj Biography

Birju Maharaj started teaching dance at the tender age of 13, at the Sangeet Bharti in New Delhi. Eventually he moved to the Bharatiya Kala Kendra in Delhi. After a few years, he began teaching at the Kathak Kendra (a unit of the Sangeet Natak Akademi) where he was Head of Faculty and director.

He retired from the Kathak Kendra in 1998 and proceeded to open his own dance school, Kalashram. As a dance teacher, he believed in continually learning new things. For him, classical dance was one of the ways to connect with the divine. Hence it is called a sadhana.

He was of the view that a dancer who knows singing and has an adequate knowledge of musical instruments will greatly enrich his art. Meditation and yoga are also important for a dancer. The Kathak dance form especially needs a lot of breath control, strength and stamina.

A renowned choreographer, he also worked in Bollywood films. He composed the music, and sang, for two dance sequences in the Satyajit Ray's ‘Shatranj ke Khilari’ and has also choreographed Kathak dance sequences in ‘Dedh Ishqiya’ as well as ‘Umrao Jaan’, and ‘Bajirao Mastani’ directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali.

In addition to being a dancer and a choreographer, he was also an accomplished singer well-known for his renditions of thumris and dadras (forms of classical vocal music). He was also talented at playing the tabla, and the violin.

Birju Maharaj was the leading exponent of the Lucknow Kalka-Bindadin gharana of Kathak dance, and was the founder of the dance school Kalashram in Delhi which focuses on imparting training in the field of Kathak and associated disciplines. At the school, he used the traditional parameters to choreograph new presentations as he aspired to convey to the audience that even classical style can be very appealing, interesting and dignified.

Birju Maharaj was honored with Padma Vibhushan in 1986.

He was also the recipient of Sangeet Natak Akademi Award and the Kalidas Samman.

In 2002, he received the Lata Mangeshkar Puraskaar.

Birju Maharaj had five children: three daughters and two sons. Three of his children, Mamta Maharaj, Deepak Maharaj and Jai Kishan Maharaj are also noted Kathak dancers in their own rights.

Birju Maharaj died of a heart attack on on 17 January 2022, at the age of 83, at his residence in Delhi.

Birju Maharaj was not only a talented Kathak dancer, but he was also an accomplished vocalist, composer, and choreographer.

He came from a prestigious lineage of Kathak dancers, with his family being renowned for their contributions to the art form for generations.

Birju Maharaj was known for his unique ability to seamlessly blend traditional Kathak techniques with innovative and contemporary elements in his performances.

In addition to his contributions to the world of dance, Birju Maharaj was also involved in various charitable initiatives and social causes, showing his commitment to using his talent for the greater good.