Kathak, a mix of cabaret and mujra in Bollywood: Birju Maharaj
His uncle made Madhubala a true dancing diva in ‘Mughal e Azam’ and he has choreographed for Madhuri Dixit, but renowned Kathak exponent Pt Birju Maharaj is not happy with the way this classical dance form is portrayed in cinema.
“Kathak is being potrayed in the wrong manner in most of the Bollywood flicks. Sometimes what one sees is a mix of cabaret and mujra in the name of Kathak” says Padama Vibhushan awardee.
“Due to the influence of Hindi cinema, foreigners often ask whether the dance numbers in the movie Umrao Jaan is done in authentic Kathak style. It is an irony,” he says.
Birju Maharaj has directed classical song sequences in films like ‘ Shatranj ke Khiladi’, ‘Dil to Pagal Hai’ and ‘Devdas’.
Taking a dig at dance-based talent hunt shows on television such as ‘Boogie Woogie’ and ‘Nach Baliye’, he says these programmes corrupt the mind of children as not even a single programme is based on classical dance.
“In such shows participants are made to dance for film songs which are sometimes very vulger. This trend will spoil them and keep them away from classical dances.” says the 70 years old artist.
According to him working for ‘Devdas’ was a good experience in which he has directed a thumri ‘Binda shayam manat nahi’ for Madhuri.
— PTI
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