Who Is Pandit Lachhu Maharaj

Pandit Lachhu Maharaj 1907-19 78 was an Indian classical dancer and choreographer of Kathak. He came from the family of Kathak valleys in Lucknow, and also worked as film choreographer, Hindi cinema, most notably Mughal-e-Azam 1960 and Pakeezah 1972

He was awarded the 1957 Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, the highest award for performing artists, conferred by the Music Natak Akademi, India's National Academy for Music, Dance, and Drama.

Early life and training

He received extensive training from Pandit Bindadin Maharaj, his uncle and the court dancer of the Nawab of Awadh, for nearly ten years. He also learned the Pakhawaj, the Tabla, and Hindustani classical vocal music.

Who Is Pandit Lachhu Maharaj:- Career

He later moved to Mumbai, where the emerging film industry helped him to bring Kathak to a far wider audience. Lachhu Maharaj was appreciated for the choreography of dance sequences in films like Mahal 1949, Mughal-e-Azam 1960, Chhoti Chhoti Baten 1965 and Pakeezah1972 as well as his ballets like Goutam Buddha, Chandravali and Indian Kissan. He was also founder Director of the Kathak Center started by Uttar Pradesh Government in Lucknow.

Who Is Pandit Lachhu Maharaj:- Awards

Among many prestigious awards, he won the President's Award and the 1957 Music Natak Akademi Award, the highest award for performing artists, conferred by the Music Natak Akademi, India's National Academy for Music, Dance and Drama.

Who Is Pandit Lachhu Maharaj:- Legacy

In September 2007, a two-day festival was organized in Lucknow to celebrate his birth centenary, in presence of his wife Rama Devi, his disciples like Nalini and Kamalini, a book on him also released and students of the dance institute he founded, Kathak Kendra Staged a Ballet, Megh Malhar, LifeStory by www.LifeStoryBreking.Com