Dasi, Binodini (c 1862 -1941)  a nineteenth century actress and theatre personality. Born to an impoverished family in Calcutta. Popularly known as Natee Binodini, she started taking singing lessons from a courtesan (baiji) at the age of seven and entered the stage at the age of 12 in a role in the play Shatru sanghar at the Great National Theatre in 1874. This was the time when the proscenium inspired form of European theatre was gaining popularity among the Bengali audience. Under the guidance of playwright, director and manager girish chandra ghosh, and by dint of sheer talent and hard work, Binodini soon became the passion among the well-to-do theatre loving babus of Calcutta. During the twelve years of her acting life, she acted in lead roles in 80 plays that included Pramila, Sita, Draupadi, Radhika, Ayesha, Kaikeyi, Motibibi, Kapalkundala, etc.

Binodini's sudden retirement from the stage is shrouded in mystery. She was not just a talented actress, but also a person who was passionately devoted to the development of theatre in Bengal. She contributed generously in cash and kind to build up the famous star theatre in Calcutta, which she wanted to be named after her. Binodini herself admits that she agreed to become the mistress of a rich businessman, in order to help procure funds for the Star and its company.

In 1884 Sri ramakrishna came to see a play and visited Binodini backstage afterwards - an event which left a deep impression on the actress who became an ardent devotee of Ramkrishna. In her time she was called the Flower of the Native Stage and the Moon of the Star Theatre. She introduced the modern techniques of stage make-up blending European and indigenous styles, at a time when there was no role model before her.

The colourful story of her life, its vicissitudes, dreams and betrayals are set down in her autobiography Amar Katha published in 1319 BS. In the introduction to a recent reprint of the autobiography, Saumitra Chatterjee points out that the chroniclers of the theatre movement in 19th century Bengal are curiously silent on the topic of Binodini Dasi. This may perhaps be due to the fact that in the 19th century, most actresses came from the ranks of prostitutes and Binodini was seen as no exception. Hypocritical standards of the bhadralok allowed the pleasure derived from theatre viewing, but not an acknowledgement of its actresses. Yet Binodini contributed to the success and development of all the companies she worked with - National, Bengal and Star. In fact the last would not have been founded without her help.

Binodini's book is written in an elegant style and here she describes the men and women who taught her, exploited her and loved her. After her retirement she went to live with her protector and benefactor for whom she retained high regard. After his death she lived a quiet lonely life in Calcutta, enlivened by writing and occasional visits to her beloved theatre. [Sonia Amin]