Pt. Birju Maharaj: The Maestro Who Made Kathak Sing

Birju Maharaj’s artistry demonstrated that for a dancer, music is not simply an accompaniment but an essential part of expression. His voice, always gentle, melodious and emotionally rich, reflected the same fluidity that defined his movements. When he danced, each graceful sweep of the hand and every effortless spin conveyed a sense of celebration, as if he were honouring the rhythms of the universe itself. His journey in Kathak began when he was a very young child, during a period when British India did not recognise most indigenous art forms as classical. Despite these circumstances, he stepped onto the public stage at the age of seven, only two years before India gained Independence.

In the years following freedom, India began to rebuild and nurture its cultural heritage. Institutions such as the Sangeet Natak Akademi were established to support traditional performing arts that had suffered due to shifting political and economic conditions. For Kathak, this support came at a crucial moment. The form had struggled after the decline of princely courts that had once patronised it generously during the Mughal and Awadh eras. As the country moved forward, the reorganisation of cultural practice helped this classical dance survive and grow, eventually allowing artists like Birju Maharaj to bring it renewed prominence.

Birju Maharaj belonged to a renowned family of Kathak dancers whose legacy extended across seven generations in northern India. His childhood in Lucknow, one of the most influential cultural centres for Kathak, provided him with an environment steeped in rhythm, poetry and refined movement. His extended family also lived in historic cities such as Benares and Rampur, both known for their artistic traditions. Over time, social changes created financial uncertainty for many practitioners of the art. Some were compelled to take up related professions to support themselves.

Among them was Birju Maharaj’s uncle, Lachhu Maharaj, a highly respected dancer who moved to Bombay to choreograph for the Hindi film industry. The young Birju often visited him and was exposed to a gentler, more cinematic style of movement that differed from the rigorous and powerful technique of his first guru and elder uncle, Shambhu Maharaj. As he matured, Birju developed a personal style that blended the subtle grace associated with Lachhu Maharaj and the strong, authoritative quality passed down by Shambhu Maharaj. His leading disciple, Saswati Sen, frequently observed that he carried the softness of one uncle and the strength of the other. His father and guru, Acchan Maharaj, also had a profound influence on him. Although Acchan Maharaj had passed away when Birju was still very young, his presence continued to guide the dancer’s artistic choices and values throughout his life.

As Birju Maharaj rose to prominence, Kathak began to receive worldwide attention. His performances expanded the reach of the form and helped establish it on the global stage alongside other major classical styles such as Bharatanatyam. He was known for his adaptability and his willingness to engage in dialogue with artists from different traditions. His duet in 2013 with the eminent dancer Padma Subrahmanyam is often remembered as a striking example of this spirit of collaboration. The openness he demonstrated was consistent with the character of Kathak itself, which is rooted in storytelling. A Kathak dancer is expected to be adept at singing, reciting rhythmic syllables, portraying emotions through abhinaya and executing complex footwork with clarity. Birju Maharaj excelled in all these dimensions. He played both the tabla and pakhawaj, wrote poetry, and sang thumris and ghazals in languages such as Bangla, Hindi and Marathi. He admired musicians as varied as Ravi Shankar, Bismillah Khan, Naushad and Talat Mahmood. He also brought Kathak into the world of cinema with memorable choreographies in films including Satyajit Ray’s Shatranj ke Khilari and Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Devdas.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Birju Maharaj was known for his warmth and humour. He could share profound interpretations of mythology with the same enthusiasm that he brought to playing video games with his students. His remarkable ability to portray the journey of human life, from infancy to old age, within a few seconds of rhythmic improvisation reflected both his mastery and his unique understanding of the Natya Shastra. Through his imagination, skill and generosity, he transformed Kathak and left a legacy that continues to inspire dancers around the world.