Pandit Birju Maharaj left an indelible mark in the film industry with some timeless dance-sequences over the course of decades.
For me, dance is like connecting with the almighty,바카라 Pandit Birju Maharaj, said in countless interviews, he had given during his lifetime. That바카라s why despite creating the some of the most iconic dance sequences in Bollywood, he never craved to be a part of the industry. Whatever films, he was a part of, were driven by his desire to create a timeless sequence.
Pandit Birju Maharaj left an indelible mark in the film industry with some timeless dance-sequences over the course of decades, who refused to be part of 바카라raunchy바카라 numbers, or where actresses were asked to do 바카라skin show바카라.
"I miss the golden days of Hindi cinema when you had eternally graceful actresses like Madhubala, Meena Kumari, Waheeda Rahman, etc. I am very selective about the films that I do. I want to know the lyrics of the songs as I want to make sure that they are clean,바카라 he had once said in an interview.
He composed the music, and sang, for two dance sequences in Satyajit Ray's 바카라Shatranj Ke Khilari바카라, choreographed Kamal Haasan바카라s dance in 바카라Unnai Kodu Naan바카라, in the film 바카라Vishwaroopam', he only collaborated with directors who appreciated his aesthetics, and worked film stars, who were more than eager to learn from him.
His most recent student has been actress Alia Bhatt who trained under him for the song 바카라Ghar More Pardesiya바카라 for 바카라Kalank바카라.
Madhuri Dixit Nene was his favourite Bollywood student to work with. 바카라Well! there are many wonderful dancers in Bollywood. My favourite has been Madhuri Dixit. She is a trained Kathak dancer and has natural grace,바카라 he had once said in an interview.
The first ever set he choregraphed with Dixit, was in the 1997 film 바카라Dil Toh Pagal Hai바카라, during a sequence, Dixit under the spotlight is dancing to beats played by Shah Rukh Khan on the drums.
바카라Maharaj ji interpreted all the drum beats as various expressions of a peacock dancing with abandon,바카라 Dixit had said in an interview. His influence on dancing was not limited to only Kathak, as Dixit also discovered.
바카라I had watched many of his performances but met him for the first time in the USA, when I attended his workshop. I was expecting a straight dance practice but was surprised when the first thing he asked me was to show him the ' Ek, Do, Teen' move,바카라 Dixit had once, recalled in an interview.
바카라He has done jugalbandis with flamenco dancers and tap dancers, who deceive Bharatnatyam. After seeing him, I really believe that once you learn a classical dance form like Kathak, you can pick up any dance form in the world,바카라 she said.
Be it 'Kaahe Chede' from 바카라Devdas바카라 or 바카라Mohe Rang Do Laal바카라 from 'Baji Rao Mastani', Sanjay Leela Bhansali, was probably the only filmmaker he worked with the most in the 21st century.
바카라Sanjay bhai has a brilliant aesthetic sense. He knows what suits better. He is a trained Odissi dancer. We share a strong bond since 바카라Devdas바카라. Our viewpoints match and that helps to bring out the best in both of us,바카라 he had once said in an interview.
He went on to win his first Filmfare award for the song 바카라Mohe Rang Do Laal바카라 from 바카라Baji Rao Mastani바카라, an award, he had than jokingly admitted, he바카라d never win.
바카라Main toh hairaan ho gaya (laughs), kyunki aajkal ke zamane mein toh yeh hai hi nahin, but taqdir aur ishwar ki kripa hai. (I am so surprised, because in today바카라s day and age, this is not possible, but I am grateful for my destiny and God),바카라 he had said right after he won the Best Choreography award.
Maharaj바카라s love for aesthetics, which allowed him to choreograph beautiful dance sequences for films was not over, and nor were his collaborations with Bhansali.
바카라I am very comfortable working with him. He understands and respects my idea of creation, art, and dance. It is extremely important for me that the actress I choreograph is dressed in a respectable outfit," he had said.
As per reports, he was working with the filmmaker for intricate dance sequences for his upcoming webseries 바카라Heeramandi바카라. The Netflix series means that another set of audience, who consume content on OTT platforms are going to be exposed to Birju Maharaj바카라s beautifully shot dance sequences. In many ways, that바카라s his legacy, of being able to introduce Kathak to a completely different generation and audience, through time.