Birju Maharaj

Doyen of Kathak and scion of the first family of the Lucknow gharana, Pandit Birju Maharaj is a legendary figure in Indian dance in our times. He has inherited the art from his father Pandit Acchan Maharaj and his illustrious uncles Shambu Maharaj and Lacchu Maharaj.

During the last forty years Birju Maharaj has led the Kathak scene as an exceptional dancer, teacher and choreographer, becoming in the process a virtual embodiment of the art itself. His brilliant performances displaying mastery over every aspect of the art – nritta, abhinaya, vocal music and percussion – won him the Sangeet Natak akademi Award at the age of twenty eight. He has performed extensively in India and abroad, gaining an immense following for the art. The large corpus of Kathak created and popularized by him is now standard material for Kathak teachers and dancers in the country.

As adance teacher he has pioneered the development of the comprehensive teaching methodology at Kathak Kendra. Delhi, which on the one hand encompasses the entire Kathak tradition and, on the other, has succeeded in making Kathak a national art of contemporary relevance. For many years he has been serving the Kathak Kendra as its principal guru, identifying himself completely with the institution. He enjoys a phenomenal following, with a large number of disciples all over the world. Many dancers of different generations trained by him have attained individual eminence.

Birju Maharaj has equally excelled in choreography and has experimented with a wide range of ideas, themes and formats. As chief of the Production Unit of Kathak Kendra, he has created several works of abiding aesthetic value. He is also an accomplished percussionist, singer and music composer.

Truly a grand master who has been a bridge between Kathak past and present, Pandit Birju Maharaj has been honoured with the Kalidas samman and the Pama vibhushan, apart from the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1964).