Birju Maharaj

About Birju Maharaj

Who is it?: Kathak Dancer
Birth Day: February 04, 1938
Birth Place: Varanasi, Indian
Origin: India
Genres: Indian classical music
Occupation(s): Classical dancer, composer, classical singer
Years active: 1951 - present
Website: birjumaharaj-kalashram.com

Birju Maharaj

Birju Maharaj was born on February 04, 1938 in Varanasi, Indian, is Kathak Dancer. Indian dancer Birju Maharaj is a master of the Kalka-Bindadin gharana of Kathak dance, a leading exponent of the dance form. Born in the house of a prominent Kathak dancer, Jagannath Maharaj, the young Briju Maharaj was destined to follow in his father’s footsteps and make a name for himself as one of the foremost dancers in the genre, in India. Brilliant from a young age, he began reciting complex tihais and tukras as a toddler. Recognizing his son’s potential, his father began training him. Birju Maharaj proved to be an enthusiastic learner who decided early on to dedicate his life to the development of the Kathak dance form. The untimely death of his father came as a massive blow to the boy. However, he continued to receive training from his equally talented uncles and began teaching dance at the Sangeet Bharti in New Delhi when he was just 13. He soon gained a reputation as a notable dance teacher and eventually became the Head of Faculty and director at the Kathak Kendra (a unit of the Sangeet Natak Akademi) from where he retired, in 1998. Following his retirement he opened his own dance school, Kalashram. He has also choreographed Kathak dance sequences in some Bollywood movies.
Birju Maharaj is a member of Dancers

Does Birju Maharaj Dead or Alive?

As per our current Database, Birju Maharaj is still alive (as per Wikipedia, Last update: May 10, 2020).

🎂 Birju Maharaj - Age, Bio, Faces and Birthday

Currently, Birju Maharaj is 86 years, 9 months and 14 days old. Birju Maharaj will celebrate 87rd birthday on a Tuesday 4th of February 2025. Below we countdown to Birju Maharaj upcoming birthday.

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Popular As Birju Maharaj
Occupation Dancers
Age 85 years old
Zodiac Sign Pisces
Born February 04, 1938 (Varanasi, Indian)
Birthday February 04
Town/City Varanasi, Indian
Nationality Indian

🌙 Zodiac

Birju Maharaj’s zodiac sign is Pisces. According to astrologers, Pisces are very friendly, so they often find themselves in a company of very different people. Pisces are selfless, they are always willing to help others, without hoping to get anything back. Pisces is a Water sign and as such this zodiac sign is characterized by empathy and expressed emotional capacity.

🌙 Chinese Zodiac Signs

Birju Maharaj was born in the Year of the Tiger. Those born under the Chinese Zodiac sign of the Tiger are authoritative, self-possessed, have strong leadership qualities, are charming, ambitious, courageous, warm-hearted, highly seductive, moody, intense, and they’re ready to pounce at any time. Compatible with Horse or Dog.

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Awards and nominations:

Birju Maharaj has won many accolades, including Padma Vibhushan in 1986, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award and the Kalidas Samman. He also received honorary Doctorate degrees from Banaras Hindu University(Varanasi) and Khairagarh University.

Biography/Timeline

1947

Birju Maharaj was born in the house of Kathak exponent, Jagannath Maharaj, popularly known as Acchan Maharaj of Lucknow Gharana, who served as court Dancer in Raigarh princely state. Birju was trained by his uncles, Lachhu Maharaj and Shambhu Maharaj and his Father, and he gave his first recital at the age of seven. On 20 May 1947, his Father died when he was nine . After a few years of struggle, his family moved to Delhi.

1986

Birju Maharaj has won many accolades, including Padma Vibhushan in 1986, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award and the Kalidas Samman. He also received honorary Doctorate degrees from Banaras Hindu University(Varanasi) and Khairagarh University.

1998

Maharaj started teaching the dance form at the young age of thirteen, at the Sangeet Bharti in New Delhi. He then taught at the Bharatiya Kala Kendra in Delhi, and at the Kathak Kendra (a unit of the Sangeet Natak Akademi) where he was Head of Faculty, and Director, retiring in 1998 after which he opened his own dance school, Kalashram, also in Delhi. He composed the music, and sang, for two dance sequences in the Satyajit Ray's Shatranj ke Khilari, and choreographed the song Kaahe Chhed Mohe from the 2002 film version of novella Devdas. In addition, he has also choreographed Kathak dance sequences in Dedh Ishqiya as well as Umrao Jaan, and Bajirao Mastani directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali.

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