5 progressive women from Netflix’s Stories by Rabindranath Tagore

Stories by Rabindranath Tagore first aired on TV in 2015 and is now available on Netflix. The show is directed by Anurag Basu and comprises of 26 episodes.

The series is an adaptation from Tagore’s stories and is well-suited to the understanding of contemporary times. A common theme in these stories is how the women stand up against social injustice and refuse to blindly follow social norms present in Indian society. Here are five such women who are sure to inspire and empower you.

1. Binodini

Radhika Apte plays the role of Binodini, who rejects the rules widows in Bengal are meant to adhere to. She is determined to fight for her emotional and sexual desires despite being a widow and refuses to let society dictate her life.

2. Charulata

In Charulata, Amrita Puri played the role of a lonely housewife, who is in love with her brother-in-law. Instead of staying idle at home, she decides to learn music and explore her interests. Through this story, Tagore presents the concept of women taking charge of their own lives and following their passions and ambitions.

3. Giribala

Ronjini Chakraborty takes on a challenging role in Giribala. She plays a housewife beaten up by her husband, who eventually elopes with another woman. Although hurt and distraught, she picks herself up and reinvents herself as an actress, thus also proving to society that she does not need a man to find success and happiness and can make it on her own.

4. Kalyani

Abigail Pande plays the role of Kalyani, whose father breaks off her marriage to Anupam on the day of her wedding. She is an independent and strong woman who finds joy and purpose in caring for orphans. When Anupam proposes to her again, Kalyani states that she does not need a husband to be complete and has found new meaning in life.

5. Mrinal

Amrita Bagchi takes up the role of a progressive woman who decides to leave her husband and in-laws, who are regressive. After witnessing women being treated unjustly all her life, she decides to break away from things that hold her back and live on her own terms.