KOLKATA: Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee on Monday announced her decision to rename Kolkata’s Star Theatre to Binodini Theatre to rectify a historical injustice done 141 years ago by a misogynistic society that ostracised a pioneering female stage performer due to her origins in a red-light district.
Speaking at an event in Sandeshkhali, Banerjee said, “I have already asked the Kolkata mayor, we will change the name of Star Theater to Binodini Theater. The reason is to pay respect to mothers and sisters.”
After the chief minister ‘s statement, Kolkata Municipal Corporation held an urgent meeting and issued a formal notification. “We have instructed our officials to do whatever is necessary to honour the legendary actor whose contribution to Bengali theatre has been immense,” the mayor said.
Over the centuries, Kolkata has housed two Star Theatres. One was situated at Beadon Street and the other at Cornwallis Street (now Bidhan Sarani). “Girish Chandra Ghosh had persuaded Bindoni Dasi to be Gurmook Roy’s mistress since that would ensure that he funded a theatre on Beadon Street. She consented. A theatre was built on July 21, 1883, though it was not named after her. The first show there was ‘Dakshayajna’ starring Bindoni. Yet, four years later, in Jan 1887, she voluntarily withdrew from theatre,” says theatre personality and education minister Bratya Basu.
Ramakrishna Paramhansa attended a performance of ‘Chaitanya Leela’ there and blessed the actors, including Binodini. “The theatre changed its name to Emerald, Kohinoor and Manmohan Theatre before being finally demolished in 1931 by the British govt when the Central Avenue was extended,” said Basu. This existing Star Theatre, which is being renamed, stands on Bidhan Sarani and was built in Dec 1887.
Actor Sudipta Chakraborty, who portrays Binodini in Abanti Chakraborty’s play ‘Binodini Opera’, said: “In the play, Binodini questions the logic behind refusing to name the theatre after her fearing audience opposition, even when people turn up in huge number to watch her perform. For two years, during every performance of our play, the audience has agreed when we asked them if the Star Theatre should be named after Binodini. Today’s move is a triumph for our campaign. It is also a slap on the patriarchal perspective that never ventured to rectify this injustice. While the city has Madhusudan Mancha, Rabindra Sadan, Sisir Mancha and Girish Mancha, no govt ever contemplated having a Binodini Mancha.”
