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The Well Known Kathak Dancer Pandit Birju Maharaj
● Famous classical dance artist Pandit Birju Maharaj was born on February 4, 1938 in Lucknow.
● One of India's most famous and loved artistes, Brij Mohan Nath Mishra (popularly known as Pandit Birju Maharaj) belonged to the 'Kalka-Bindadin Gharana' of classical Kathak dance in Lucknow.
● Birju Maharaj's father and Guru Jagannath Maharaj (Acchan Maharaj), uncle Shambhu Maharaj and Lachhu Maharaj were also famous Kathak dancers.
● The artistic personality of Pandit Birju Maharaj has been such, which is considered beyond logic. He was a teacher, dancer, choreographer, singer and composer.
● He used to play percussion instruments, write poetry and also used to do painting.
● Awarded 'Padma Vibhushan' in the year 1983, Birju Maharaj also choreographed dance in many Bollywood films, including films like Umrao Jaan, Dedh Ishqiya, Bajirao Mastani. Apart from Padma Vibhushan, he has also received Sangeet Natak Akademi Award and Kalidas Samman.
● He was awarded the 'National Film Award' for the choreography in the film 'Vishwaroopam' in the year 2012.
● He was awarded the Filmfare Award in the year 2016 for the choreography of the song 'Mohe Rang Do Lal' from Bajirao Mastani.
● He received honorary doctorates from Kashi Hindu University and Khairagarh University.
● His first solo performance was at the 'Manmathanath Gupta Samaroh' held in Bengal, where he demonstrated his dance skills to the stalwarts of 'classical dance'.
● On January 17, 2022, eminent Kathak dancer Birju Maharaj, who took the traditional Indian dance form 'Kathak' to the world stage, passed away.

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