I do choreography in films on my own terms: Pandit Birju Maharaj
Phunkar of Lucknow shone in Bollywood… Whenever it comes to choreography in classic films, Pandit Birju Maharaj of Lucknow will be named with great respect. Few people may know that he sang and choreographed two songs in the period and classic film "Chess Ke Khiladi", set against the backdrop of Satyajit Ray's Lucknow.
Let us also look at Panditji's Lucknow connection. Brijmohan Nath Mishra aka Pandit Birju Maharaj Music composer, singer, poet, composer, teacher, director, choreographer, speaker was born on 4 February 1938 in Lucknow. The love and affection of father Jagannath Maharaj alias Achchan Maharaj and mother Sridei Mishra was found. Pardadaji Maharaja Thakur Prasad was the Kathak Guru of the last Nawab of Awadh. Dadaji Bindadin Maharaj and his brother Maharaj Kalka Prasad were Kathak dancers in the court of Wajid Ali Shah. Under Bindadin Maharaj, he mastered art education and Hindustani classical music, singing, Kathak, dance drama, Thumri, Dadra, Bhajan, Ghazal etc. Chachaji Shri Shambhu Maharaj and Baijnath Mishra alias Lachhuji Maharaj also got love and blessings.
Achieved Kathak training from father Achchan Maharaj, uncle Shammu Maharaj and Lachhu Maharaj. Father Nawab was a state dancer in the court of Rampur. Birju Maharaj sometimes used to come to Lucknow and sometimes Rampur with his mother. When he was seven years old, he exhibited his art for the first time in front of Nawab Raza Ali in the Rampur court. Then on 20 May 1947 at the age of nine, the father died. Those were tough days. Went to Kanpur with family. His sister was married there. In between, he also went to Chacha Lachhu Maharaj for eight months in Bombay. Chachaji was a choreographer in films there. Then Kapila didi brought her with her to Delhi. Uncle joined the Indian Art Center in Delhi near Shambhu Maharaj. At the age of thirteen, he started teaching Kathak at Sangeet Bharti, New Delhi. Then played the role of Kathak teacher in Indian Art Center. The work of Kathak Center, a branch of Sangeet Natak Akademi, took over. Retired as director in 1998. In the same year, he opened his school in the name of Kalashram and Lucknow is carrying on the tradition of Kathak house. Today his identity is well known in the dance drama Govardhan Leela, Makhan Chori, Malti Madhav, Kumar Sambhav and Phag Bahar. Wife Mrs. Annapurna Devi (late), two sons Deepak Maharaj, Jai Kishan Maharaj and daughter Mamta Maharaj are all renowned dancers of Kathak. Grandson is Tribhuvan Maharaj and granddaughter Ragini Maharaj. Visited more than a thousand stage performances, performed hundreds of workshops in almost all countries.
Question and answer op: Why do films always show Kathak on the brothel? On this question, Panditji said, whenever the situation of dance in our films comes, the Kathak is immediately given preference. The reason for this is that when the British came to India, Kathak came out of the temples and became the zenith of the court of Nawabs and Emperors. He came forward as a nutrient and protector of Kathak. Our grandfather-great-grandfather not only trained Kathak of the last Nawab of Lucknow, but he had a special place in his court. He had also provided the house to our grandfather Bindadin Maharaj ji. Bindadin's Deodhi has taken the form of a memorial today. This art was also taught to high-quality tawaifs and buffaloes to keep Kathak alive. Yes, so your question was why Kathak is shown in the films on the cell phone of Tawaif. The first reason for this is that it has an amazing inclusion of expansion, acting, emotion, speed, rhythm, thumri, music and style. Which along with Thumri produces a miraculous gesture. Since this art was well-known to the higher class tawaifs, it became a tradition and flourished on the Kathak Kotha.
You are a top performer of Kathak, even after that you have choreographed only in a few films, what is the reason for this? When I was asked, his answer was, 'I have certain conditions without which I would not do choreography. The first thing is dress. If the castroom is square, I immediately refuse. It is also necessary to have a classic touch in the film. The lyrics should also be classical. I abstain from bicameral dialects. The dancer should also be proficient in dance. All these conditions are fulfilled by our friend Sanjay Leela Bhansali, so I have choreographed in two films with him. It is not that our family had any abstinence from films. My uncleji Shambhu Maharaj ji has choreographed in many films including the films' Mughal Azam "and 'Pakija'.
The artists of Lucknow are looking at you, will their wishes be fulfilled? This Pandit ji said, at the last stage of the age everyone wants to return to their soil. I also wish that I give more and more time to Lucknow. Here, I should prepare a new sapling of the Kathak tradition of Lucknow Gharana. I am planning something that I should live in Lucknow as well as my Kathak skillful son Deepak to conduct workshops there. I wish that if the government gives us one and a half acres of land in or around my birthplace, Lucknow, then we will be there in the lap of nature which has a well, a cottage, a hut, an open air stage, a residential art work like Guru Shishya tradition, where students can stay in the habit of Kathak Also learn other art forms like painting, singing, playing and other classical dances. See when the state government fulfills this wish of mine.
Who would you like to give credit for the place you are today? On this question, he said that he would undoubtedly give it to his mother. After the passing of father, there was a cloud of crisis on our family. We moved from Lucknow to Kanpur. I lived in Lucknow Kanpur for four years. Later, Kapila Didi took us to Delhi. My Struggle continued there too. Bicycle for two years. Then the bus of number three and five used to come and go. He saw many ups and downs in life.
# Premendra Srivastava
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