Condolence
messages
poured
in
from
all
quarters
for
legendary
Kathak
dancer
Birju
Maharaj,
with
President
Ram
Nath
Kovind
and
PM
Narendra
Modi
leading
tributes
as
political
leaders,
the
film
fraternity
and
people
from
the
performing
arts
world
remembered
Kathak's
greatest
ambassador.
Maharaj-ji,
as
he
was
popularly
known,
died
at
his
home
in
New
Delhi
in
the
early
hours
of
Monday.
He
would
have
been
84
next
month.
According
to
his
granddaughter,
Ragini
Maharaj,
the
Kathak
maestro
died
surrounded
by
his
family
and
disciples.
They
were
playing
'antakshari’
after
dinner
when
he
suddenly
fell
ill.
The
Kathak
exponent,
one
of
India’s
best
known
artistes,
had
been
suffering
from
a
kidney
ailment
and
was
under
dialysis
treatment.
He
probably
died
of
a
cardiac
arrest,
his
granddaughter
said.
“We
took
him
to
hospital
immediately
but
we
could
not
save
him,”
she
said.
President
Ram
Nath
Kovind
said
the
demise
of
legendary
Pandit
Birju
Maharaj
marked
the
"end
of
an
era".
"It
leaves
a
deep
void
in
the
Indian
music
and
cultural
space.
He
became
an
icon,
making
unparalleled
contribution
to
popularise
Kathak
globally.
Condolences
to
his
family
and
admirers," the
president
said.
Prime
Minister
Narendra
Modi
said
his
death
is
an
"irreparable
loss"
to
the
entire
art
world.
"Deeply
saddened
by
the
demise
of
Pandit
Birju
Maharaj
ji,
who
gave
Indian
dance
a
special
recognition
world
over.
His
passing
is
an
irreparable
loss
to
the
entire
art
world.
My
condolences
to
his
family
and
fans
in
this
hour
of
grief,"
the
prime
minister
said
on
Twitter.
Vice
President
M
Venkaiah
Naidu
said
his
death
is
a
"huge
loss" to
the
world
of
performing
arts.
"...
My
heartfelt
condolences
to
the
bereaved
family
members.
Om
Shanti,"
the
Vice
President
Secretariat
tweeted,
quoting
Naidu.
Congress
leader
Rahul
Gandhi
tweeted
that
the
contribution
of
the
Kathak
maestro
to
the
field
of
Indian
classical
dance
is
"unparalleled".
Actor
Madhuri
Dixit,
who
trained
under
Birju
Maharaj
and
most
memorably
performed
"Devdas"
song
'Kaahe
chhede
mohe' under
his
guidance,
said
he
was
a
legend
but
had
a
"child
like
innocence".
"He
was
my
guru
but
also
my
friend.
He
taught
me
the
intricacies
of
dance
and
'Abhinay'
but
never
failed
to
make
me
laugh
at
his
funny
anecdotes.
"He
has
left
behind
grieving
fans
and
students
but
also
left
a
legacy
we
will
all
carry
forward.
Thank
you
Maharajji
for
everything
you
taught
me
in
dance
along
with
humility,
elegance
and
grace,"
Dixit
tweeted.
BJP
MP-actor
Hema
Malini,
who
is
also
a
trained
Bharatanatyam
dancer,
took
to
Twitter
and
penned
an
emotional
note
on
Birju
Maharaj's
demise.
"The
nation
mourns
the
passing
of
a
true
legend,
Shri
Birju
Maharaj,
Kathak
exponent
par
excellence.
His
ghungroos
were
on
his
ankles
till
he
breathed
his
last.
I
always
admired
and
respected
him
as
a
giant
of
the
medium
of
Kathak
and
will
miss
his
presence
on
the
firmament
of
dance," the
73-year-old
actor
wrote.
Filmmaker
Hansal
Mehta
remembered
Birju
Maharaj
as
"one
of
Kathak’s
greatest
ambassadors".
Director
Anil
Sharma
worked
with
Birju
Maharaj
for
his
hit
Partition
drama
"Gadar:
Ek
Prem
Katha"
and
recalled
how
the
maestro
was
thrilled
to
choreograph
a
thumri
in
the
2001
film
titled
"Chanda
Aaye
Taare
Aaye".
Sharma
told
PTI
he
was
eager
to
collaborate
with
the
veteran
again
on
"Gadar
2"
but
it
will
now
"remain
just
a
dream".
"He
had
exceptional
artistry
and
a
vision
to
pull
it
off.
When
I
went
to
meet
him
for
the
first
time
in
Delhi,
he
was
so
excited.
He
heard
the
entire
story
of
the
film
and
when
he
liked
it,
he
then
heard
the
song.
He
would
rarely
work
in
films
but
he
was
thrilled
to
choreograph
for
us."
Kamal
Haasan,
who
trained
under
the
maestro
for
"Vishwaroopam"'s
song
'Unnai
Kaanaathu',
remembered
Birju
Maharaj
as
an
"unparalleled
dancer".
The
Kathak
legend
was
honoured
with
the
National
Award
for
best
choreography
for
the
song.
On
Twitter,
Bhansali
Productions
mourned
his
passing
as
the
banner
shared
stills
from
the
songs
of
"Devdas" and
"Bajirao
Mastani",
the
films
for
which
the
legend
trained
Madhuri
Dixit
and
Deepika
Padukone,
respectively.
"Today,
we
are
extremely
saddened
and
heartbroken
by
the
loss
of
an
incredible
talent,
Pandit
#BirjuMaharaj.
Your
legacy
inspired
us
and
so
many.
"Recalling
the
moments,
we
had
the
pleasure
to
have
you
on
board
with
us,
we’d
just
like
to
say
-
thank
you,
for
being
a
part
of
our
journey
and
for
allowing
us
to
be
a
small
part
of
yours.
It
goes
without
saying
but
dancing
to
Kathak
will
never
be
the
same
again,"
the
production
house,
owned
by
director
Sanjay
Leela
Bhansali,
tweeted.
Saroj
maestro
Amjad
Ali
Khan
said
his
passing
away
was
a
personal
loss
for
him.
"The
passing
away
of
Pandit
Birju
Maharaj
marks
the
end
of
an
era
for
Indian
dance
and
Kathak.
For
me
it’s
been
a
personal
loss.
He
was
loved
immensely
by
my
family
and
his
memories
live
in
our
hearts
forever.
The
heavens
will
dance
for
him
today
and
everyday!
May
he
RIP."
Kuchipudi
exponent
Raja
Reddy
said,
"I
am
very
sad.
I
know
Birju
Maharaj
since
70s.
When
we
--
Raja
Reddy
and
his
wife
Radha
Reddy
--
came
to
Delhi
first
time
he
was
there
in
the
Kathak
Kendra,
teaching
and
performing...
He
dedicated
his
entire
life
for
the
Kathak
dance."
Singer
Durga
Jasraj,
daughter
of
the
late
Pandit
Jasraj,
called
his
death
"a
monumental
loss
to
Indian
performing
arts".
Dancer
Geeta
Chandran
said,
"His
contribution
to
the
world
of
dance
is
indeed
historic,
and
will
certainly
be
carried
forward
by
his
absolutely
amazing
tribe
of
disciples
and
students."