Lachhu Maharaj (1901-1978) came from a family of illustrious Kathak exponents in Lucknow. He was fortunate to receive extensive traning in Kathak from Pandit Bindadeen Maharaj, his uncle and the court dancer of the Nawab of Awadh, for nearly ten years. He also learnt the Pakhawaj, the Tabla and vocal music, which helped to add many ornamentation to his style of dancing. He later moved to Bombay, where the emerging film industry helped him to establish his credentials as a modern master of Kathak. Lachhu Maharaj was acclaimed for the choreography of dance sequences in movies like Mahal, Mughal-e-Azam and Pakhiza as well as his ballets like Goutam Buddha, Chandravali and Bharatiya Kissan. He served as the founder Director of the Kathak Kendra started by the Uttar Pradesh Government in Lucknow. He also won many prestigious awards like the Presidents' Award and the Sangeet natak Academy Award.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India