New Delhi, February 3 (). Pandit Birju Maharaj is the name of a personality who gave recognition to Kathak on the world stage. The Kathak Samrat was born on 4 February 1938 in the Kalka Bindadin Gharana in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. He beautifully expressed the incarnations and leelas of Lord Krishna in dance dramas like Govardhan Leela, Makhan Chori, Malti Madhav, Kumar Sambhav and Phag Bahar etc. through Kathak bands and dance expressions and gestures.
Birju Maharaj’s full name was Brijmohan Nath Mishra, but the world fondly calls him ‘Birju Maharaj’. He himself told the interesting story behind this name in the interview. Birju Maharaj had told that he was born in Luffin Hospital, Lucknow. At that time only girls were being born continuously in the hospital. When he was born, the only boy, the neighbors and relatives said in joy, “Hey, Mohan of Brij has come. The only Krishna among the Gopis.” Because his presiding deity was Lord Krishna and Mohan of Brij (Vrindavan) i.e. Krishna, that is why he was named Brijmohan.
With time ‘Brijmohan’ affectionately became ‘Birju’. He had told, “Ram became the king, Shiva kept doing penance, but there was only one person who could dance with the Gopis, Krishna. That’s why I was also named Mohan of Brij.”
Birju Maharaj was born in the famous Kalka Bindadin Gharana of Lucknow. Father Achchan Maharaj (Jagannath Maharaj), uncle Shambhu Maharaj and Lachu Maharaj were all great Kathak dancers. His talent started showing in his father’s lap at the age of just three years, but his father died at the age of nine. After this, uncle Shambhu and Lachu Maharaj prepared him.
Birju Maharaj made Kathak not just a dance but an art of expression, acting and storytelling. He created dance plays like ‘Govardhan Leela’, ‘Makhan Chori’, ‘Malti Madhav’, ‘Kumar Sambhav’ and ‘Phaag Bahaar’. He was a great devotee of Lord Krishna and used to bring alive the pastimes of Lord Krishna with his expressions and expressions.
Very few people know that he also had a deep connection with the cinema world. His contribution to films was no less. He choreographed in films like ‘Shatranj Ke Khiladi’ (Satyajit Ray), ‘Dil To Pagal Hai’, ‘Devdas’, ‘Gadar’ and ‘Vishwaroopam’. He also received the National Film Award for Best Dance Direction in 2012 for ‘Vishwaroopam’.
His talent was honored with many honors. In the year 1986, he was awarded many awards by the Government of India including Padma Vibhushan, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, Kalidas Samman and Lata Mangeshkar Award.
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MT/DKP
