In pics: Lesser known facts about Kathak maestro Pandit Birju Maharaj

Kathak maestro Pandit Birju Maharaj passed away on Sunday (January 16) at the age of 83 due to a cardiac arrest. The legendary dancer has had an illustrious career and is the recipient of the prestigious Padma Vibhushan award.

Check out lesser-known facts about him. (Pics courtesy: Twitter)

(Note: Information taken from Pandit Birju Maharaj's official website).

Pandit Birju Maharaj is a direct descendant of  Ishwari Prasadji, the first known Kathak teacher. Sri Ishwari Prasadji was a Mishra Brahmin in Handia Tehsil of Allahabad. It is said that Lord Krishna appeared in his dream and asked him to re-establish Kathak Nritya  (Natwari Nritya). He passed on his knowledge to his sons Adguji, Kharguji and Tularamji, by teaching them Kathak till the ripe old age of 100 years. The three sons also devoted their life to this tradition and passed it on to their sons.

Pandit Birju Maharaj was born on 4 February 1938 in Lucknow, where his father, Acchan Maharaj, recognized his talent and took him under his guidance. His uncles, Shambhu Maharaj and Lachhu Maharaj also taught him Kathak at an early age.

Surrounded by a musical atmosphere, his inborn talent surfaced at the early age of three years, when he would playfully sit on his father’s lap and recite tihais and tukras, oblivious of the fact that they were complex pieces. His father performed at musical conferences all over India and by the age of seven, Birju Maharaj had accompanied him to Kanpur, Allahabad, Gorakhpur, Jaunpur, Dehradun, and even far off places like Madhubani, Kolkata and Mumbai. He got the opportunity to share the platform with his illustrious father, who allowed him to present a few pieces before he himself came on stage.

Birju Maharaj’s first major solo performance was at Manmath Nath Ghosh celebrations in Bengal in the presence of stalwarts of music. He received recognition as a young dancer with great potential. He never looked back after that, his career graph rising steadily. His solo dances became an integral part of any musical conference of repute and no musical conference was complete without a performance by Pt. Birju Maharaj.  

The Kathak maestro has been conferred with numerous prestigious awards including India's second-highest civilian award – Padma Vibhushan. Other awards bestowed on him are Sangeet Natak Academy Award, Kalidas Samman, Nritya Choodamani, Andhra Ratna, Nritya Vilas, Adharshila Shikhar Samman, Soviet Land Nehru Award, Shiromani Samman, Rajiv Gandhi Peace Award.

Pandit Birju Maharaj is a superb drummer, playing nearly all drums with ease and precision; he is especially fond of playing the Tabla and Naal. He can play all string instruments, Sitar, Sarod, Violin, Sarangi with ease, though he never underwent any formal training.

​He is also a singer par excellence, having command over Thumri, Dadra, Bhajan and Ghazl. He sings from the heart, words flowing out effortlessly. His deep resonating voice brings out the feeling and emotion behind every word.

He also has Honorary Doctorate degrees from Banares Hindu University and Khairagarh University.

Maharaji has directed, composed music, and sung for two classical dance sequences for renowned filmmaker Satyajit Ray's‘Shatranj Ke Khiladi’ (The Chess Players).

He has also composed a sequence for the song 'Aan Milo Sajna' that featured dancers from his dance school for the film 'Gadar: Ek Prem Katha'.  Most recently, he choreographed Deepika Padukone for 'Mohe Rang Do Laal' from Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Bajirao Mastani'. Devdas, Dil Toh Pagal Hai, Vishwaroop also have his choreographed sequences.