Theatre/acting has played a fulfilling role in the lives of both Binodini Dasi and A. Revathi.

Ques. Theatre/acting has played a fulfilling role in the lives of both Binodini Dasi and A. Revathi. While Binodini was able to lift herself from her social image of a “fallen woman or potita” through her various roles on public stage, A. Revathi was able to express her feminine self by putting on roles of women in plays during village festivals. Critically comment.

Ans. “Men and even women stared at us and laughed, and heckled us. I realized what a burden a hijra’s daily life is. Do people harass those who are men and women when they go out with their families? Why a crippled person, a blind person- even attract pity and people help them.”    

                                                                                                                                    - A. Revathi

“There is nothing in this world for me but everlasting despair and fears of a heart filled with sorrow. And yet there is not a soul who will listen even to this. There is none in this world before whom I can lay bare my pain, for the world sees me as a sinner- a fallen woman.”

                                                                                                                                  -Binodini Dasi

In the above instances, voice of strong and influential females is captured from the recent urban history, who tried to bring a change in the world. These women came from the different background with diverse culture with a view to challenge the stereotypes of their time and bring a change in the minds of audience in respect to marginalized communities and gender. The connection between both of these women is a bond of theatre which bring them fame, critical acclaim and money, though the society did not leave a chance to look them down upon.

Their writings- ‘My story and life as an actress’ by Binodini Dasi and ‘Truth About Me: A Hijra Life Story’ by A. Revathi gives us critical insight into the interpenetrative nature of events in their public and personal lives and their recurrent self- images in the society.

The nineteenth century famous Bengali actress Binodini Dasi, was born in Calcutta in a poverty stricken-family with no means and property. At an early age, she was introduced to poverty and financial burden at the end of her family. So, she initiated her career in acting and made progress in the same direction.

In nineteenth century, there was not much scope for women to come up on the stage and act, as the theatre belong to man’s world. However, the female from upper-caste families were not allowed to act on the stage so, the directors from Bengali theatre started picking up actress from red light areas. Binodini, herself came from the red-light area as a prostitute but with the help of theatre and acting she tried to lift herself from the social norms of a fallen women.

Binodini holds a significant place in early Bengali theatre because of her acting, she was handpicked by the Bengali Theatre Legend, Girish Chandra Ghosh. From there her career as a dramatist, and a part-time poet took an upward trajectory. Girish, encouraged her to write poetry and get it published. Finally, she became a renowned name among the biggest actress.

The big stage allowed her to play various roles, but in the initial stage theatre was not able to take away the tag of ‘potita’ in front of her name. Here, Binodini was doubly oppressed firstly because of her profession by birth of a prostitute and secondly because of her gender. Her by-birth profession became barrier in her social life as a reputable woman.

Ultimately, through her autobiography the audience came to know the struggle of her life and the way she fought against all the odds to overcome the burden of being a disreputable woman. She always tried to elevate herself from this status. The way in which she refashioned herself not only as an actress but also personally to escape the life of shame and thus, she challenged the double standard of contemporary patriarchal system.

Binodini’s autobiography reveals the crisis that she has faced in her life. The crisis of identity and gender along with the personal and professional tragedies us what makes her life more miserable. Her life progression is symbolic to that of lotus, even if she is grown in mud that is in red light area but because of her talent the main focus of the audience was on the lotus, i.e., on Binodini.

On the other hand, A. Revathi who was born as Doraisamy is the youngest male child among all the siblings raised in Tamil Nadu. He grew up as a shy boy with feminine qualities, with an affection of dressing like a woman and traditionally doing female activities such as household chores. From his childhood, he was being criticized and laughed upon at home and even in the school premises. But since, Doraisamy’s male body nurture desire, passion and affection of being a “female”, he left his family to cherish his passion.

As he grew physically and mentally, he became aware of the hijra community. In India hijra or transgender community is being marginalized in every aspect be it in terms of economic, socio-political or geographical terms they are deprived of major part and find it difficult to live in the society. He thought that after turning into a woman, he would be at peace. But her autobiography revealed the painful exploitation she has gone through.

The first ever autobiographical sketch by a person belonging to hijra community recounts the separation and discrimination they felt on daily basis. Through her story she brings into light that a hijra is also worthy of respect and human rights.

At the age of 20, Revathi decided to fulfill her sexual desire by working as a sex worker.  A. Revathi tried her luck in the film industry in 2008 to influence and make people aware about the life of transgender and how their lives are being made miserable because of the social pressure.

Theatre and writing are powerful tools to bring transformation in the society as A. Revathi thinks. Through the movie Thenavattu by VV Kathir, Revathi plays the role of transgender and tries to convey people about how alien the world looks to them.

Both these women have suffered a lot in their lives but have finally came out of the haunting life situations. The struggle of Binodini and A. Revathi were different but one thing that was common is the role of theatre which serves as a tool to transform their disreputable identity into a reputable and respectable one. Their unique talent along with the power of voice be it in their real-life role or the reel life role became important.

Binodini and Revathi stood up for themselves and for other people belonging to their respective community. They stand against the society which was not reluctant to accept them the way they are. Even now, people look the prostitutes and transgender as down upon and they think they are wrong and whatever, they do is wrong. But both these influential personalities tried to challenge stereotype and earn respect.