Binodini Dasi

Binodini Dasi (1863 – 12 February 1941), widely known by her stage name Noti Binodini, was a pioneering Indian Bengali actress, writer, and theatre personality of the 19th century. She began her acting career at the age of twelve in the Bengali theatre, a domain traditionally dominated by men, and achieved widespread fame for her portrayals of mythological and historical female characters.

Despite her immense popularity and critical acclaim, Binodini retired from the stage by the age of twenty-three. Her premature departure was influenced by the social stigma attached to women performers during that period. In 1913, she published her autobiography, Amar Katha (translated into English as My Story and My Life as an Actress), which is considered one of the earliest memoirs by a South Asian actress. This work offers rare insight into the struggles and social prejudices faced by female performers in colonial India, as well as reflections on her own life, relationships, and professional experiences.

Her life and contributions have since been the subject of scholarly research, plays, and films, underlining her role as a trailblazer who challenged the norms of her time.