Birju Maharaj honoured with Padma Vibhushan (india’s second highest Civilian Award)
Table of Contents
Introduction about Birju Maharaj
Brijmohan Mishra, popularly known as Pandit Birju Maharaj, is famous as inimitable kathak dancer. He is renowned choreographer in bollywood industry. Moreover he is awarded with many awards, prominently Padma Vibhushan
Peak Sneak View of Birju Maharaj Personal Life
| Birju Maharaj Birthday | 4 February 1938 |
| birju Maharaj Death | 16 January 2022 |
| Birjus’s Age | 83 Years Old |
| Birju Maharaj Profession | Poet Singer Composer Kathak Dancer Choreographer |
| Birju Maharaj Family Members | Acchan Maharaj(Father) Amma ji Maharaj (Mother) Lachhu Maharaj and Shambhu Maharaj (Uncles & Gurus) |
| Birju Maharaj Place of Birth | Varanasi |
| Birju Maharaj Popularity Reason | Katha Dancer |
| Birju Maharaj Net Worth | $7 Million as per 2017 data $10 Million in 2020 |
| Birju Maharaj Height | 163cm |
| No. of Birju Maharaj Childern | 3 Childern |
| Birju Maharaj Childern | Deepak Maharaj, Jaikishan Maharaj, Mamta Maharaj |
| Gender | Male |
| Birjus Maharaj Awards | Padma Vibhushan National Film Award for Best Choreography Filmfare Award for Best Choreography |
Birju Maharaj Early Life
Birju Maharaj Born in Varanasi. His father, Jagannath Maharaj, popularly known as Acchan Maharaj of Lucknow Gharana, served as court dancer in Raigarh princely state. He belonged to the legendary Maharaj family of Kathak dancers
In his early agrBirju Maharaj fell in love with the art of dancing. He believed its a magical way to connect to His Divine. He began performing as a child alongside his father, who he idolized. He often travelled with his father who performed at musical conferences all over India, and accompanied him to Kanpur, Allahabad, Gorakhpur, Jaunpur, Dehradun, Madhubani, Kolkata and Mumbai.
Birju Maharaj Father Death- A big Tragedy
At the age of nine year, innocent boy met a big tragedy of his life. He lost his role model father. After this he started his dance training journey and learnt dance from his uncles, the well-known dance masters Shambhu and Lacchu Maharaj.
Birju Maharaj Career
As he is left alone after his father, so he knew that he is the one who has to struggle. At the age of 13, he is capable of teaching dance at Sangeet Bharti in New Delhi. Eventually he moved to the Bharatiya Kala Kendra in Delhi. After a few years, he began teaching at the Kathak Kendra (a unit of the Sangeet Natak Akademi) where he was Head of Faculty and director.
Birju Open his Dance School
in 1988, he retired and decided t take his dancing passion to the enxt level. He opened his own dancing school kalashram. He was fond of playing Tabla and Naal. He also knew how to play string instruments Sitar, Sarod, Violin, Sarangi with ease, though he never underwent any formal training.
Birju Served in Bollywood
He was the composer of c, and sang, for two dance sequences in the Satyajit Ray’s ‘Shatranj ke Khilari’ and has also choreographed Kathak dance sequences in ‘Dedh Ishqiya’ as well as ‘Umrao Jaan’, and ‘Bajirao Mastani’ directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. He knew alot about musical instrument.
Birju Maharaj Awards and Achievements
Birju Maharaj was honored with Padma Vibhushan in 1986.
He is also the recipient of Sangeet Natak Akademi Award and the Kalidas Samman.
In 2002, he received the Lata Mangeshkar Puraskaar.
Birju Maharaj Filmfare Award
| Year | Award | |
| 2013 | National Film Award for Best Choreography – Vishwaroopam – Filmfare Award for Best Choreography | |
| 2016 | Bajirao Mastani | |
| 1964 | Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Dance – Kathak |
Birju Maharaj Death
Birju Maharaj died at the age of 83 due to a cardiac arrest on 16 January 2022. At the time of his death, he was surrounded by his family and disciples at his residence in Delhi.
The only solace for the family is that he did not suffer too much in his last moments. He was laughing and smiling during his last moments, according to her granddaughter Ragini Maharaj.
