During a recent Webinar organized by Prabha Khaitan Foundation, Pt. Birju Maharaj – the Kathak
Maestro shared the myriad of his life’s experience and journey during the initial days of working as an artist.
Speaking on the occassion, Pt Birju Maharaj said, “I still pray that I get to go to Lucknow and work with the people there. Everything about Lucknow is engraved in my brain like an image.”
On the inception of his ideas, he mentioned – “I always like to discuss my ideas with my closest confidants because exchange of ideas is important.”
“Dance is beyond gender and age. There is no age limit to when one can start learning if you have the art in yourself. It is not a male or female dominated profession it is about honing your art and surrendering yourself to your guru ji.” added the living legend.
Vidushi Saswati Sen, one of his prominent disciples over the past fifty years recalled the memories of how
Maharaj ji trained them to feel the art of Kathak.
“Pt. Birju Maharaj ji has created visual poetry through the form of Kathak” she remarked, while adding her nostalgic experience of working with Satyajit Ray on the sets of Shatranj Ke Khiladi, alongside her Guru.
Vidushi Saswati Sen elaborated upon his innovative approach – “Maharaj Ji can blend Kathak with the moves and gestures of everyday life, once when I was to attain a Hockey Tournament but instead I attended my classes. When I mentioned it to Maharaj Ji and he just said ok we will be playing Hockey and he experimented with a new move in Kathak!”
““My grandfather is extremely open, and warm hearted. He makes everyone feel so comfortable that it is almost impossible to have a formal conversation with him. His strive for perfection and dedication towards work is still intact as though not a moment has passed by!” said Kathak danseuse Shinjini Kulkarni.
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