Birju Maharaj passes away: Lesser-known facts about this legendary Kathak dancer

Kathak, one of India’s oldest dance forms, has been an integral part of our country’s performing arts culture. Over time, several Kathak masters have contributed significantly to this form of art. However, one name that stands out is Pandit Birju Maharaj, whose work has been revered by dance enthusiasts and non-dancers alike. The legend passed away on Sunday, January 16 at his residence in New Delhi at the age of 83 due to a heart attack. He previously suffered from a kidney ailment and was under dialysis treatment for the same. His distinct storytelling knack, coupled with his excellence in dance, truly set him apart from everyone else. Condolences poured in on social media after the news of his demise broke, acknowledging and celebrating his contributions to the Kathak, and Indian art in general. Read on to learn some lesser-known facts about the life and work of this dance maestro. 

Birju Maharaj worked as a singer with Satyajit Ray  
Although he was primarily known for his impeccable Kathak skills, Birju Maharaj was also an artistically gifted musician and singer. In fact, he was the composer and singer for two dance sequences in Satyajeet Ray’s popular film, Shatranj Ke Khilari. The multi-talented artist also excelled at playing the tabla. 

Dance runs in the family of Birju Maharaj 
From his birth, Kathak was weaved into his life as he was born into a family of dancers. As his surname suggests, Birju Maharaj was a descendant of the well-known Maharaj family of Kathak dancers. His two uncles, Lachhu Maharaj and Shambhu Maharaj trained young Birju since the early years of his childhood.  

He started teaching dance at the age of 13 
The precocious dancer performed his first recital at the age of seven. What’s more fascinating is that he started teaching dance just six years later, at the age of 13 at the Sangeet Bharti in New Delhi. 

His performances included anecdotes from his personal life  
What made Birju Maharaj’s dance unique was his fantastic storytelling ability. He would interlace incidents and anecdotes from his own personal life into his performances which captivated his audiences. It also involved intriguing commentary about current happenings of the world.