Thespians hail renaming Kolkata’s Star Theatre after Binodini Dasi as historic, but futile

The long-lasting century-old Star Theatre, standing tall and ornate on the crossing of Aurobindo Sarani and Bidhan Sarani in North Kolkata as a monolith of Bengal’s historic theatre traditions, now carries a special identify plaque — ‘Binodini Theatre’. 

A couple of days after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s December 30 announcement to rename Star Theatre to Binodini Theatre, all banners and plaques on the auditorium had been promptly changed to mirror the brand new identify. Whereas this variation might sound innocuous to some, it’s thought-about by many in Bengali’s theatre circles as traditionally vital — a protracted overdue reparation to the Nineteenth-century theatre performer Binodini Dasi. 

In accordance with writer, theatre researcher and practitioner Suddhasatya Ghosh, the unique Star Theatre, established in 1883 at 68, Beadon Avenue and demolished and relocated by 1930, was purported to be named after Binodini.

“Theatre veterans of the early Nineteenth century, like Girish Ghosh, Amritalal Basu, Ardhendu Shekhar Mustafi wished to practise Bengali theatre autonomously, outdoors of zamindari patronage which was the norm earlier than that,” Mr Ghosh stated. “So that they approached Binodini to courtroom Punjabi businessman Gurmukh Rai and assist fund a business theatre house within the coronary heart of the town.”

He added that feminine theatre practitioners on the time had been primarily intercourse employees, and could be supported as thespians by their rich patrons. Between the 1870s and Eighties, Binodini turned a celebrated and extensively widespread thespian, identified for her performing, singing, and dancing, and whose identify alone may draw big crowds to observe Bengali performs in Kolkata.

‘Binodini began theatre in her teenagers. She had a paramour she wished to marry, however the likes of Girish Ghosh satisfied her to courtroom Mr Rai as a substitute, who they believed may assist set up an autonomous theatre house,” Mr Ghosh stated. “The promise made to Binodini, nevertheless, was that the auditorium could be named after her — B Theatre or Binodini Theatre.”

He added that not solely did Binodini sacrifice her love affair to assist fund the theatre at Beadon Avenue, however she additionally did bodily labour to assist assemble the auditorium.

Nonetheless, when the auditorium was lastly registered in March 1883, it was named Star Theatre as a substitute of B Theatre or Binodini Theatre, in contrast to what was promised to her.

“She was informed that the viewers wouldn’t wish to watch theatre at an area named after a intercourse employee. Binodini felt betrayed and humiliated. This is among the causes she retired from theatre very early, by the age of 24,” stated Mr Ghosh.   

In her Bengali autobiography Amar Katha (My Story), Binodini Dasi devoted a chapter to Star Theatre. Recalling the second she realised it had not been named after her, she wrote, “It felt like 100 assaults on my coronary heart, I couldn’t converse for some time… I puzzled if their affection for me was a pretense simply to get their work accomplished by way of me.” 

Nonetheless, Star Theatre slowly declined in operations and was finally bought off in earlier than 1888. After that, Mr Ghosh stated, the auditorium at Beadon Avenue was renamed and restarted a number of occasions, as ‘Emerald’, ‘Metropolis’, ‘Kohinoor’ and so on., however was lastly razed down initially of 1930 when Central Avenue was being constructed.

In the meantime, the model ‘Star Theatre’ began afresh in 1888 as a brand new auditorium on the intersection of Bidhan Sarani and Aurobindo Sarani, the place it now stands as Binodini Theatre.

Immediately, the newly renamed Binodini Theatre operates as a film corridor and homes an artwork gallery and amphitheatre on the bottom, additionally named after Binodini Dasi. In ticket reserving websites and engines like google on-line, Star Theatre now comes up as Binodini Theatre. 

The sooner location at 68, Beadon Avenue, has now develop into dwelling to a shabby eatery, a store promoting tea leaves, and a small paan retailer. 

“Binodini carried out extensively for a couple of decade. Her sacrifices and her work at the moment are instrumental in bringing Bengali theatre to the place it’s in the present day, particularly with regard to feminine participation in theatre,” he added.

The identical sentiment was echoed by Abanti Chakraborty, who wrote and directed the modern Bengali play, ‘Binodini Opera’, a tribute and retelling of Binodini’s life story.

“Binodini’s contribution to Bengali theatre is immeasurable. It’s due to her, and different feminine theatre practitioners of that point, that ladies like me can follow theatre now,” Ms Chakraborty stated.

Nonetheless, each Mr Ghosh and Ms Chakraborty agree that renaming Star Theatre after Binodini accomplishes little in paying tribute to her theatre legacy.

“Firstly, this was not the Star Theatre established by Binodini, Girish Ghosh and others at Beadon Avenue. That now not exists, and Binodini was not associated to the one established the second time,” Ms Chakraborty stated. “Furthermore, it’s a film corridor now, not a theatre house.”

In accordance with her, establishing a brand new auditorium in Binodini’s identify would have accomplished extra to protect her legacy and assist modern Bengali theatre thrive. 

“The Star Theatre we all know now, has a century-old historical past of its personal, regardless of not being associated to Binodini. Renaming this one, as a substitute of beginning a brand new auditorium, additionally erases Star’s personal legacy,” Mr Ghosh stated. Like Ms Chakraborty, he reiterated {that a} new theatre house may have helped pay homage to the actor and revive current-day Bengali theatre.