Theatre
চৈতন্যলীলা
Not translated into English
Girish Chandra Ghosh · 1884
Synopsis
At the beginning of the sixteenth century, in Nabadwip, the young Nimai, a learned Brahmin, discovers devotion to Krishna and becomes the man who will be venerated under the name of Chaitanya. Drawn from the life of the saint written by Brindavan Das, the play follows his youth, his songs and dances of devotion, and the growing tension between the family home and the call that draws him away from it.
Context
The play, drawn from Brindavan Das's Chaitanya Bhagavat, was first staged on 20 September 1884 at the Star Theatre, opened the previous year; Binodini Dasi, an actress from the world of courtesans, played the saint. Ramakrishna attended a performance a few days later and blessed the actress, and some of the Brahmos reproached him for frequenting this theatre. The author became his disciple and thereafter devoted his plays to religious subjects.
Who it is for
A devotional play. It helps to know Chaitanya, a major figure of Bengali Vaishnavism, whom the audience of 1884 knew. No French translation.
Prizes and reception
A great success, which launched the vogue for devotional biography on the public stages of Calcutta, and the most famous role of Binodini Dasi.
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