Pandit Birju Maharaj is the foremost Indian Kathak dancer of India belonging to the Lucknow gharana. He was born in 1937. He made his first mark in the arena at the age of 28, when he received the popular Sangeet Natak Akademi award. Besides, he also has several awards and honours to his credit including the prestigious Padma Vibhushan (1986), the Sangam Kala Award (2000) and the Lata Mangeshkar Purashkaar (2002).
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