Kathak Legend Birju Maharaj Talks About “Dirty” Songs

Birju Maharaj says he likes good clothes and good body language in the songs he choreographs.

Birju Maharaj. (Photo: IANS)

India’s famed Kathak exponent Birju Maharaj, who choreographed actress Deepika Padukone in “Mohe rang do laal” for the National Award-winning film “Bajirao Mastani”, says that he cannot choreograph “dirty songs” which involve skin exposure.

In my songs, what I like is good clothes and good body language. I cannot choreograph dirty songs, where people are wearing fewer clothes. People might be able to, but I am definitely not game for such songs.

<b>Birju Maharaj</b>

Having performed innumerable times on various stages across the world, the National Award-winning Kathak legend has also lent his skill to choreographing for films like Satyajit Ray’s “Shatranj ke Khilari”, Madhuri Dixit-starrer “Dedh Ishqiya” and Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s “Devdas”.

Birju Maharaj has the legacy of seven generations of Kathak dancers in a small village near Varanasi, which produced stalwarts like Thakur Prasad, Durga Prasad, Bhairon Prasad, Maharaj Bindadin, Achchan Maharaj and Shambhu Maharaj.

(This article is from The Quint’s archives and was first published on 20 May 2016. It is now being republished to mark Birju Maharaj’s birthday.)