New Delhi, February 4: Pandit Birju Maharaj is a name synonymous with Kathak, a classical Indian dance form that he brought to the global stage. Born on February 4, 1938, in the Kalka Bindadin gharana of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, he beautifully expressed the divine exploits of Lord Krishna through dance dramas such as Govardhan Leela, Makhan Chori, Malti Madhav, Kumar Sambhav, and Phag Bahar.
His full name was Brijmohan Nath Mishra, but he is affectionately known as ‘Birju Maharaj.’ He shared an intriguing story behind this name in an interview. Birju Maharaj recounted that he was born in Laffin Hospital in Lucknow, where only girls were being born at that time. When he arrived as the only boy, neighbors and relatives joyfully exclaimed, “Ah, Brij ke Mohan aaye hain. The only Krishna among the Gopis.” Since Lord Krishna has always been his chosen deity, he was named Brijmohan.
Over time, ‘Brijmohan’ affectionately transformed into ‘Birju.’ He explained, “While Ram ruled and Shiva meditated, only Krishna danced with the Gopis. Hence, my name reflects Brij’s Mohan.”
Birju Maharaj hailed from the renowned Kalka Bindadin gharana in Lucknow. His father, Achhan Maharaj (Jagannath Maharaj), along with his uncle Shambhu Maharaj and Lachhu Maharaj, were all celebrated Kathak dancers. His talent began to shine at the tender age of three, but he faced a tragic loss when his father passed away when he was just nine. Following this, his uncles Shambhu and Lachhu Maharaj took him under their wing.
Birju Maharaj transformed Kathak into not just a dance form but also a medium for emotion, acting, and storytelling. He created dance dramas such as ‘Govardhan Leela,’ ‘Makhan Chori,’ ‘Malti Madhav,’ ‘Kumar Sambhav,’ and ‘Phag Bahar.’ A devoted follower of Lord Krishna, he brought Krishna’s divine pastimes to life through his performances.
Few know of his deep connections to the film industry. He made significant contributions to cinema, serving as a dance director for films like ‘Shatranj Ke Khiladi’ (Satyajit Ray), ‘Dil To Pagal Hai,’ ‘Devdas,’ ‘Gadar,’ and ‘Vishwaroopam.’ For his work in ‘Vishwaroopam,’ he received the National Film Award for Best Choreography in 2012.
His remarkable talent earned him numerous accolades. In 1986, the Government of India honored him with the Padma Vibhushan, along with several other prestigious awards, including the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, Kalidas Samman, and the Lata Mangeshkar Award.
