Kareena Kapoor Khan and Hema Malini, among others, flocked to social media to express their sorrow at the passing of famed kathak dancer Pandit Birju Maharaj. Panditji’s untimely death on January 17 left the country mourning the loss of one of its legends. After suffering a heart arrest late Sunday night, the kathak master, who was 83 years old, passed away.
Kareena Kapoor, a Bollywood actress, paid tribute to one of Kathak’s greatest icons on Instagram. She wrote along with a photo of Panditji. “Rest in Peace,” the inscription reads.
Hema Malini, a veteran actress, too took to Instagram to express her sorrow over Panditji’s untimely death. According to the ‘Dream Girl,’ “The country mourns the passing of Shri Birju Maharaj, a real legend and Kathak exponent par excellence. His ghungroos remained on his ankles till he died. I revered and respected him as a giant of the Kathak medium, and I shall miss his presence on the dance stage.”
Pandit Birju Maharaj’s personal homage was tweeted by veteran director Subhash Ghai. Ghai recalled how, while organising a college celebration at which Maharaj ji was performing, he “created a passionate discourse” between Lord Krishna and Radha with his eyes doing the talking.
“I discovered that ‘DANCE’ refers to the body, but the soul is found in the eyes. That’s why he was a Kathak Jagat Guru “Ghai, who is again in the limelight for his debut as a music composer for the forthcoming film ’36 Farmhouse,’ tweeted about it.
The sarod maestro, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan Saheb, was among the cultural figures that lamented Maharaj ji’s death, tweeting that it signified the end of an era for Indian dance and Kathak.
“It’s a personal loss for me,” Khan Saheb stated. “My family adored him, and his memories will live on in our hearts forever. Today and every day, the sky will dance for him!”
