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Remembering Tabla Maestro Pandit Lachhu Maharaj On His Birth Anniversary
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News18•16-10-2026, 04:32
Remembering Tabla Maestro Pandit Lachhu Maharaj On His Birth Anniversary
- •Pandit Lachhu Maharaj was born on October 16, 1944, in Banaras, and learned the art of playing the tabla from his father Vasudev Maharaj.
- •He famously rejected the prestigious Padma Shri award, believing that the love and applause of the public are the greatest awards for an artist.
- •He made significant contributions to Hindi cinema, working on iconic films like Mughal-e-Azam, Pakeezah, and Mahal.
- •He was the maternal uncle of Bollywood actor Govinda, who tried to bring him to Mumbai, but Lachhu Maharaj chose to remain in his beloved Banaras.
Key Questions Answered
Pandit Lachhu Maharaj turned down the prestigious Padma Shri because he believed that the true appreciation and greatest reward for an artist come from the public's love, applause, and support rather than government accolades.
His real name was Lakshmi Narayan Singh, and he was born on October 16, 1944, in Banaras.
He contributed to several major Hindi films, including Mahal, Mughal-e-Azam, Chhoti Chhoti Baatein, and Pakeezah, where he helped showcase classical dance and Kathak on screen.
