Pandit Birju Maharaj (1938-2022) Biography, Family

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Full Name	Brijmohan Nath Mishra
Nickname	Birju Maharaj

Eye Color	Black
Hair Color	Salt and Pepper

College/University	Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Khairagarh University, Khairagarh
Qualifications	Doctorate Degrees in Classical Dancing & Singing

Marital Status	Married
Spouse	Name (Deceased)
Children	Jaikishan Maharaj Deepak Maharaj Kavita Maharaj Anita Maharaj Mamta Maharaj

Father	Acchan Maharaj
Mother	Amma Ji Maharaj
Spouse	Name (Deceased)
Children	Jaikishan Maharaj Deepak Maharaj Kavita Maharaj Anita Maharaj Mamta Maharaj

Facts	Proponent of the ‘Lucknow Kalka-Bindadin’ gharana of Kathak dance in India Descendant of legendary Kathak dancers - Shambhu Maharaj, Lachhu Maharaj, and Acchan Maharaj First recital at the age of seven Started teaching Kathak at 13 at Sangeet Bharti in New Delhi Composed music and sang for dance sequences in Satyajit Ray’s Shatranj ke Khilari Choreographed songs in Bollywood movies like Devdas, Bajirao Mastani, Dedh Ishqiya, Umrao Jaan, and more Received awards including Padma Vibhushan, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, and Kalidas Samman Skilled drummer with expertise in Tabla and Naal Singer with command over Thumri, Dadra, Bhajan and Ghazal Founder of Kalashram, a dance school dedicated to Kathak and related classical dances Head of Faculty at Kathak Kendra, a unit of Sangeet Natak Akademi, until retirement in 1998

Facts

Proponent of the ‘Lucknow Kalka-Bindadin’ gharana of Kathak dance in India
Descendant of legendary Kathak dancers - Shambhu Maharaj, Lachhu Maharaj, and Acchan Maharaj
First recital at the age of seven
Started teaching Kathak at 13 at Sangeet Bharti in New Delhi
Composed music and sang for dance sequences in Satyajit Ray’s Shatranj ke Khilari
Choreographed songs in Bollywood movies like Devdas, Bajirao Mastani, Dedh Ishqiya, Umrao Jaan, and more
Received awards including Padma Vibhushan, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, and Kalidas Samman
Skilled drummer with expertise in Tabla and Naal
Singer with command over Thumri, Dadra, Bhajan and Ghazal
Founder of Kalashram, a dance school dedicated to Kathak and related classical dances
Head of Faculty at Kathak Kendra, a unit of Sangeet Natak Akademi, until retirement in 1998

1. Started teaching Kathak dance at just 13 years old.
2. Created music and lent voice to dance scenes in Satyajit Ray's Shatranj ke Khilari.
3. Choreographed well-known Bollywood song sequences.
4. Received esteemed awards for contributions to the dance industry.
5. Was an accomplished drummer and singer in addition to being a dancer.
6. Had kidney disease and diabetes in later life and received dialysis treatment.