Star Theatre, Kolkata

The Star Theatre is a historic theatre and cinema hall located on Bidhan Sarani (formerly Cornwallis Street) in north Kolkata, West Bengal. One of the oldest surviving theatre venues in the city, it occupies an important place in the history of Bengali public theatre, which emerged as a major cultural institution in colonial Calcutta during the late nineteenth century.

Overview

The Star Theatre is associated with the early development of professional Bengali-language theatre. It served as a leading public stage for plays by writers including Girish Chandra Ghosh and hosted some of the most important actors of the period. In its later history the building functioned primarily as a cinema hall, while retaining its identity as a heritage cultural site of north Kolkata.

Background

Public theatre in Bengali had taken organised commercial form in Calcutta during the 1870s, with the establishment of the National Theatre and the Great National Theatre. The Star Theatre arose out of this milieu, building on the experience of actors and playwrights who had earlier worked with these companies. Girish Chandra Ghosh, often described as the father of the Bengali stage, was among the principal organisers.

History

Foundation at Beadon Street

The first Star Theatre opened in 1883 at 68 Beadon Street in north Calcutta. The premises were funded with the support of Gurmukh Rai, a wealthy patron, and the actress Binodini Dasi played a central role in the venture, both as a performer and as one whose participation helped secure financial backing.

Visit of Ramakrishna

The original Star Theatre is also remembered for the visit of the saint Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, who attended a performance of the play Chaitanyalila there. The episode is recorded in the hagiographical literature on Ramakrishna and is frequently cited in histories of the Bengali stage.

Move to Cornwallis Street

In 1888 the theatre moved to a new building on Cornwallis Street (later renamed Bidhan Sarani) in the Hatibagan area, where it has remained. The Hatibagan locality subsequently developed into a major theatre and cinema district of Calcutta, with several other halls clustered nearby.

Transition to cinema

Like several other Calcutta playhouses, Star Theatre eventually adapted to the rise of motion pictures and operated as a cinema hall in the twentieth century. The building was severely damaged by fire in 1991, after which it was rebuilt. It was later renovated by the Kolkata Municipal Corporation and reopened as a modernised cinema and cultural venue.

Significance

The Star Theatre is regarded as a landmark of Bengali cultural history for its association with the formative period of professional Bengali drama, the careers of figures such as Girish Chandra Ghosh and Binodini Dasi, and the broader theatrical culture of north Kolkata. It is also part of the heritage streetscape of Hatibagan, an area historically identified with Bengali theatre and cinema.

Related topics

• Girish Chandra Ghosh
• Binodini Dasi
• Bengali theatre
• Hatibagan
• Bidhan Sarani
• Ramakrishna
• Culture of Kolkata

References

• Wikidata: Star Theatre (Q7600935)