Pandit Birju Maharaj, undoubtedly India’s best-known and most iconic kathak dancer, died on Sunday night, January 16th, at the age of 83. According to reports, he had a massive heart attack and was transferred to the hospital right away, but the attack was too severe to rescue him in time. According to reports, Pandit Birju Maharaj’s health had already deteriorated before his heart attack due to kidney failure that had been identified previously, complicating matters even more and making it difficult to save him in time.
According to reports, the renowned Kathak dancer was dancing with his grandkids late on Sunday night before complaining of his heart condition deteriorating and collapsing and being unconscious. Pandit Birju Maharaj was hurried to a hospital in a state of unconsciousness by his loved ones, but he died shortly after being admitted. According to reports, the Padma Vibhushan recipient was diagnosed with kidney loss just days before his death and has been on dialysis ever since.
Soon after his demise was announced, prominent members of the entertainment industry and the country’s arts community, as well as those from other fields such as politics, business, and sports, took to their social media handle and expressed their heartfelt condolences, with singer Adnan Sami and filmmaker Ashoke Pandit among the first to do so on their official Twitter handle.
Pandit Birju Maharaj was an expert Kathak dancer who was also noted for his drumming skills, having mastered practically every drum known, and was even considered as a singer par excellence, with mastery of many forms such as Thumri, Dadra, Bhajan, and Ghazal.
Filmmaker Ashok Pandit expressed his admiration on Twitter and wrote, Padma Vibhushan Pandit #birjumaharaj ji, kathak legend and vocalist, passed away in Delhi after suffering a heart attack. It’s the end of an epoch. My sincere condolences to his close ones.
Adnan Sami, a singer, took to Twitter to express his sorrow over the death of Pandit Birju Maharaj. “We all are deeply grieved for the demise of Pandit Birju Maharaj ji, a legendary Kathak dancer. In the realm of the performing arts, we all have lost an unrivalled institution. His brilliance has affected countless generations. Rest in peace.” wrote the vocalist.