Vaibhavi Merchant choreographer pays tribute to Birju Maharaj

Vaibhavi Merchant, a Bollywood choreographer, pays tribute to Birju Maharaj, the ‘last legend of the Lucknow Gharana.’

Vaibhavi Merchant, a choreographer, pays tribute to Pandit Birju Maharaj, who died.

In an interview with mid-day.com, Bollywood’s leading choreographer Vaibhavi Merchant recalls fond memories of Kathak legend late Pandit Birju Maharaj’s work.

“Deeply saddened by Maharajji’s demise,” Vaibhavi says. He was the Lucknow gharana’s last legend, Guru, and maestro. I had the privilege of grasping from him because my Guru, Late Su Shri Madhurita Sarang, was his disciple. So we have lost a great exponent of classical dance and an institution and embodiment of the art form.

He was not only an artist but art in and of itself. As a 16-year-old student of the dance, I recall being mesmerize by his performance or the sheer brilliance both like a performer and as a Guru. Every breath he took was fill with music and dance.

All his disciples or musicians would gather around him backstage minutes before a performance, reciting padhants and tukdas and playing with precision in taal and laya while he tied his ghungroos. It was a magical sight that went above and beyond extraordinary and brilliant. His art and legend will live on in perpetuity. I offer my heartfelt Bhavpurvak Shraddhanjali to this great Guru.”