New Delhi: India, on Monday, woke up to the grim news of Kathak maestro Pandit Birju Maharaj's death. His demise sparked tributes from around the nation. Tamil actor Kamal Hassan, on learning of the sudden demise of Kathak maestro called himself 'Eklavya' who learnt from him from afar, before he actually get a chance to work with the legend in film 'Vishwaroopam'. On Monday, the actor took to twitter and wrote in Tamil, "We've lost a peerless dancer like Pandit Birju Maharaj. For several years, I learned from him, from a distance, as Ekalavya did.. then I got to learn from him in person for the film Vishwaroopam. ‘Without you insight, I'm not who I am". ஈடு இணையற்ற நடனக் கலைஞரான பண்டிட் பிர்ஜூ மகராஜ் மறைந்தார்.ஓர் ஏகலைவனைப் போல பல்லாண்டுகள் தொலைவிலிருந்து அவதானித்தும்,விஸ்வரூபம் படத்திற்காக அருகிருந்தும் நான் கற்றுக்கொண்டவை ஏராளம்.இசைக்கும் நாட்டியத்திற்கும் தன் ஆயுளை அர்ப்பணித்துக்கொண்டவரே, ‘உன்னை காணாது நான் இன்று நானில்லையே’ pic.twitter.com/WC9bTUkjE2 — Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) January 17, 2022 Meanwhile, veteran actor, dancer and politician Hema Malini is also heartbroken on learning of the unfortunate news. Taking to her twitter handle, Malini wrote, "The nation mourns the passing of a true legend, Shri Birju Maharaj,Kathak exponent par excellence. His ghungroos were on his ankles till he breathed his last.I always admired and respected him as a giant of the medium of Kathak & will miss his presence on the firmament of dance" The nation mourns the passing of a true legend, Shri Birju Maharaj,Kathak exponent par excellence. His ghungroos were on his ankles till he breathed his last.I always admired and respected him as a giant of the medium of Kathak & will miss his presence on the firmament of dance? pic.twitter.com/Wz0VLGDQPW — Hema Malini (@dreamgirlhema) January 17, 2022 Veteran actor Anupam Kher, too, remembered Birju Maharaj. Taking to Instagram, he uploaded a video to remember the Kathak legend from his days at the National School of Drama. He also talked about how he would try to understand his facial expressions as his "delicate details of acting were amazing".
