Birju Maharaj : Legendary kathak dancer, dies at 83

Pandit Birju Maharaj, affectionately known as Pandit-ji or Maharaj-ji by his disciples and legions of admirers, was one of India's most well-known artists.

[{"selector":"#anim-a3293356-6c48-422b-96bb-c7c182e81c9b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5097f15a-644e-4278-9c04-095971e8d7a4 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(8.809523841597318%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

A recipient of the country's second-highest civilian award, Padma Vibhushan. Kathak legend died at his home in Delhi late Sunday after suffering a heart attack.

[{"selector":"#anim-1aa2b8de-c48c-4069-aed5-0b06ecc81816","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b4b07f3e-a5bc-4750-a3a9-3fc63ddd3223 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(35.234374910402764%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}]

The Kathak exponent had been suffering from a kidney ailment and was under dialysis treatment

[{"selector":"#anim-c8f14415-1dfe-4dd4-adde-177b10d85886","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-658ab4e5-6797-40bc-af3f-9febf6f9331a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(33.92333974619745%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}]

Birju Maharaj was a descendant of the Maharaj family of Kathak dancers, which includes his two uncles, Shambhu Maharaj and Lachhu Maharaj, and his father and guru, Acchan Maharaj.

[{"selector":"#anim-40ecc4e4-7da1-4e4f-8f8d-eea70efc3bd3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2d5b2013-c2e0-4c74-9f91-785a6d20cfdb [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(34.179687404002955%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}]

According to his official website, the Kathak icon was also a fantastic drummer, He was particularly fond of playing the Tabla and Naal.

[{"selector":"#anim-ca8f4fc7-36bb-4679-9a15-78e335c2affe","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-35f0f057-a3b1-4854-a5e4-f316c826bf29 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(28.663792973981%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}]

Birju Maharaj was also a singer par excellence, having command over Thumri, Dadra, Bhajan and Ghazal

[{"selector":"#anim-e7ab103b-e5d8-470f-8e3d-91ecae01c575","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-95cafd6b-ee02-4e78-8eb3-61e36f4b0561 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(10.689654933880147%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":5000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}]

Birju Maharaj, according to sources, was playing with his grandsons late on Sunday night when his health deteriorated and he passed out.

[{"selector":"#anim-15046af6-8df3-4f17-b128-b91de1fced50","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8cfb6dfc-dc08-4df2-806b-24ec16974ed5 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Narendra Modi said his death is an "irreparable loss" to the entire art world, Nirmala Sitharaman described the artiste as a "legend of performing arts".

[{"selector":"#anim-4ccd23a0-aa7d-45f6-9f54-c82c3143effe","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9c7df49c-fe65-4a56-a1ac-a4bb28ec0a34 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-7.105427357601002e-15%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]