Radha‑Ramakrishna, a historical fictional drama, traces two parallel journeys: Sri Ramakrishna’s sadhana of Madhura Bhav at Dakshineswar, where he imagined himself as Radha, experiencing a woman’s body and psyche, and actress Binodini Dasi’s struggle to transcend the stigma of her birth through her art. Inspired by Girish Chandra Ghosh’s account of Ramakrishna’s practices, Binodini’s acting evolves into a higher sadhana, blurring the boundary between performance and spiritual realisation. Against the backdrop of colonial Calcutta, caste prejudice, and the British Criminal Tribes Act banning feminised male bodies, Ramakrishna appears at Rani Rashmoni’s Jan bazar Durga Puja in Radha’s attire, dancing with the kinnara community, as an embodiment of Ardhanarihwara. Later, in Star Theatre, he blesses Binodini after Chaitanya‑Leela with the immortal words: “May your Chaitanya awaken.” Society cannot be reformed by laws, caste, or prejudice, but only through the transformative fire of art and devotion.
Director
Dr. Santanu Das is an alumnus of the National School of Drama, New Delhi. Presently he is working at Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata as Associate Professor in the Department of Drama. He directed many noteworthy plays like Atha Dar Pal Katha, Power of Darkness, Ebom Indrajit, Romeo Jeannette, A Raisin in the Sun, Oedipus Tyrranus, Ghare Baire, Gollachut, Raktakto Jharokha, and others. He has jointly directed a production named Crossing with Aude Marehsal, at Mondeville, France. He has presented research papers on drama in several international conferences, and his articles have been published in many national and international research journals. His production Macbeth Mirror has been staged in countries like Vietnam, Israel, Czech Republic, Poland, and Nepal. He was felicitated with a Silver Medal for Direction at 4th International Experimental Theatre Festival – 2019, Hanoi, Vietnam.
Writer
Rakesh Ghosh, a Bengali playwright, director, and actor, regularly writes and directs for his theatre group ‘Shabdomugdho,’ which has performed numerous plays in national theatre festivals. His notable works includes the play Upal Bhaadury … Tale of a Dead Star. He collaborates with channel Star Jalsa as a story developer and screenwriter.
Director’s Note
‘I have not seen God, I do not believe in God, Bini, but I love life. And if life itself can be entwined, bound tight with sadhana, then life itself can become art, and such a person, a life‑artist…’ – a dialogue from our play, is also our question, our search.
Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa said that there are as many opinions as ways (Jato Matha Tato Patha) like our arts practices, all leading to the truth. In our production Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa is enacted by a female and Binodini by a male actor, not as a gimmick, but to touch our mind and the soul, and to find the inner soul of a play through acting, design, and music.
Group
Kalyani Kalamandalam (KK), established on 9 June 1995, explores new directions to evolve a new theatrical language in Indian theatre. The group has produced several major productions. like Manu(sh)shi, Oedipus Tyrannus, Ghare Baire, Mayeder Mahabharat, Stree etc. The group has performed in various countries like France, Poland, Czech Republic, Israel, Vietnam, Nepal, and Bangladesh. The group regularly organizes theatre festivals, children theatre festivals, workshops, publishes theatre books & magazines.