Jaya Bachchan, Madhuri Dixit to receive Lacchu Maharaj Award

Lucknow: Film actress and Rajya Sabha member Jaya Bachchan, along with actress Madhuri Dixit, will receive the prestigious Lacchu Maharaj award this year. An announcement to this effect was made by the organisers, Shakuntala Neeruj Sansthan. [caption id=“attachment_1055401” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Madhuri Dixit Nene performing at the 14th International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Award ceremony in July 2013. AFP[/caption]   Director of the institute, Kumkum Adarsh, told IANS that while Jaya Bachchan would be awarded for 2012, Dixit will be given the honour for 2013. Lacchu Maharaj had choreographed Jaya Bachchan in the film “Ek Nazar” (1972). The award was constituted in memory of Kathak exponent Lacchu Maharaj, who died in 1978. In the past, Asha Parekh, Kumkum, Sri Devi, Jaya Prada and Rekha have been the recipients of the Lacchu Maharaj award. Birju Maharaj, who represents the Lucknow gharana of Kathak dance, and is also the nephew of Lacchu Maharaj and Sitara Devi, an exponent of classical Kathak whom Rabindranath Tagore named Nritya Samragini, meaning an ’empress of dance’ have also received the award in recognition of their contribution to dance. In the past, the awards were given away on September 1, to coincide with the birth anniversary of the late dance exponent. This year, however, officials said the availability of the actresses was being ascertained to finalise the award distribution programme. IANS