Kathak maestro Pandit Birju Maharaj died at the age of 83 on Monday. After the legendary dancer's death, members of the film fraternity remembered him on social media. Kamal Haasan posted a throwback picture of himself along with the legend. Pandit Birju Maharaj had trained the actor for the song Unnai Kaanadhu Naan from Vishwaroopam, which had also won a National Award. Bollywood veteran Hema Malini, who is also a trained classical dancer, tweeted, "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."
See Kamal Haasan and Hema Malini's posts here:
— Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) January 17, 2022
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 & will miss his presence on the firmament of dance pic.twitter.com/Wz0VLGDQPW
— Hema Malini (@dreamgirlhema) January 17, 2022
Anupam Kher uploaded a video to remember the Kathak legend from his days at the National School of Drama. "He used to tell me , 'teri aankho me bahut shararat hai (there is a lot of naughtiness in your eyes),'" Anupam Kher said in the video.
Filmmaker Subhash Ghai wrote in his tribute: ''My first learning from kathak dance maestro was in my college youth festival when he expressed a romantic conversation between lord Krishna and Radha through his two eyes talking. I learnt dance means body but soul is in eyes. That's why he was a Jagat guru in kathak. RIP Birju Sir."
Kajol tweeted: "Pandit Birju Maharaj was a legend and an absolute wonder to watch... The world lost something priceless today. Rest In Peace, my deepest condolences to his family."
Pandit Birju Maharaj was a legend and an absolute wonder to watch... The world lost something priceless today. Rest In Peace, my deepest condolences to his family.#birjumaharaj pic.twitter.com/O3cBtRIGGa
— Kajol (@itsKajolD) January 17, 2022
Janhvi Kapoor, on her Instagram story, shared a throwback picture with the legend.
Screenshot of Janhvi Kapoor's Instagram story.
Actor, Akshara Haasan, daughter of Kamal Haasan wrote: "Pandit Birju Maharajji. I'm true speechless. This news has broken my heart to k ow that an angel who was on earth and made it beautiful with himself in the beautiful art form dance. His true love and passion ignited my soul into the art form and all that I would chose to do. His elegance , grace, power , strength and sensitive nature and in his art form which was in abundance made him the true artist he was. I'm honored, greatful and thankful I got to meet the legend and spend a little bit of time with him. May your soul rest in peace and be happy with your fellow angels."
Pandit Birju Mahara, a descendant of the Maharaj family of Kathak dancers, trained under his father and guru Acchan Maharaj and uncles Shambhu Maharaj and Lachhu Maharaj. For his remarkable contribution, the government of India had honoured him with the country's second highest civilian award, Padma Vibhushan, in 1986.
