PRESENT LEGEND IN KATHAK DANCE

 

As a Kathak dance student today I'm going to write about one of the present legends in India. Pandit Birju Maharaj ji is the present legend of the Maharaj family. He is a Indian dancer. He is a master expert in the North Indian dance form, Kathak. He is a dancer, choreographer as well as a teacher. Also he is the present expert in Lucknow Gharana. 

He learned this dance form from his father Acchan Maharaj ji. After his father's death Birju ji learned from two of his uncles, Lacchu ji and Shambhu ji. An article I read mentioned that Birju ji had been teaching since he was 13 years old. I mostly like the way he performs "Abhinaya" which means facial expressions in Kathak dance. His expressive abhinaya attracts everyone who watches his performances.

He is specially known as a brilliant choreographer, and also he helped to popularize dance-dramas. He worked in so many popular Bollywood films as a senior choreographer. Among them still I'm attracted with the films Devdas, Dedh Ishqiya and Bajirao Mastani which he choreographed. Also he is famous as a Thumri singer.

I like to watch Birju ji's performances which he published on youtube channel. I'm learning lessons by watching his tutorials. Now he is 83 years old. I wish Birju ji the strength and longevity to preserve this art of dance for a long time to come.