Kathak legend Birju Maharaj refuses to choreograph dirty songs

In his songs, the legend likes good clothes and good body language.

By: IANS
New Delhi | Updated: May 20, 2016 06:48 PM IST

2 min read

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Birju Maharaj says that he cannot choreograph dirty songs which involve skin exposure.

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 choreograph sleazy numbers but I am definitely not game for such songs”, Birju Maharaj told IANS here.

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 in ‘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.