Birju Maharaj, legend of India's kathak dance form, dies

NEW DELHI — Birju Maharaj, a fable of classical Indian creation and among the country’s astir well-known performing artists, died Monday. He was 83.

Maharaj was suffering from a kidney ailment and was undergoing dialysis and apt died of a cardiac arrest, his granddaughter Ragini Maharaj told the Press Trust of India quality agency.

Known arsenic Maharaj-ji by his galore fans, helium was considered an icon of the kathak signifier of Indian classical creation and was a recipient of the Padma Vibhushan, India’s 2nd highest civilian award.

He was calved into a household of renowned kathak dancers and trained nether his uncles and father, Acchan Maharaj, earlier giving his archetypal show astatine the property of 7.

Kathak uses creation and facial expressions to assistance archer a story, with galore creation pieces inspired by past Indian epics.

Maharaj was known for his animated facial expressions and light-footed movements, accompanied by the dependable of bells helium wore astir his ankles. He would often gully inspiration from his ain beingness successful his performances and was a skillful storyteller.

He was besides an acclaimed teacher of kathak and taught students astatine immoderate of the country’s astir premier creation institutions. In the precocious 1990s, Maharaj opened his ain creation school, Kalashram, successful the superior New Delhi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said helium was “deeply saddened” and that his decease was an “irreparable nonaccomplishment to the full creation world,” successful a tweet.

“Very fewer artists person been arsenic bully arsenic performers and arsenic teachers. Maharaj ji surely scaled caller heights successful some roles,” Indian classical dancer Geeta Chandran posted connected Facebook. “His publication to the satellite of creation is so historic, and volition surely beryllium carried guardant by his perfectly astonishing people of disciples and students.”

“We person mislaid an unparalleled instauration successful the tract of performing arts. He has influenced galore generations done his genius,” vocalist Adnan Sami said.