Same Games, Different Names: Isheeta Ganguly Reimagines Tagore's Women in 'Three Women'
On Booked, Isheeta Ganguly discussed how Three Women revisits Charu, Bimala and Kadambari Devi. She said their emotional conflicts, questions of agency and loneliness still echo in contemporary relationships.
Are women today truly more liberated, or have age-old struggles simply taken on new forms?
In a recent episode of Booked, India Today’s Sriya Kundu spoke with playwright, singer and author Isheeta Ganguly about her latest book, Three Women. The graphic novel revisits three iconic female figures connected to Rabindranath Tagore’s world—Charu from Charulata, Bimala from Ghare Baire, and Tagore’s sister-in-law Kadambari Devi.
Ganguly’s work explores the emotional and psychological landscapes of these women, whose lives were shaped by societal expectations, limited agency and unfulfilled aspirations. Despite being rooted in the 19th century, their experiences, she argues, remain strikingly relevant today.
From modern dating dynamics and situationships to marriage, infidelity and economic independence, Ganguly points out that while the language around relationships has evolved, the underlying emotional struggles often remain unchanged. The loneliness once confined to drawing rooms now manifests in digital silences—unanswered messages and emotionally distant connections.
The conversation also touched upon society’s continued discomfort with strong, independent women. Ganguly noted that women are still judged more harshly than men, particularly in matters of relationships and infidelity, reflecting a persistent imbalance in societal expectations.
Recalling a formative moment from her youth, Ganguly shared her encounter with legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray. When she asked him about the feminist undertones in his adaptations of Tagore’s works, Ray diplomatically sidestepped the question. This interaction, however, inspired Ganguly to imagine alternative narratives for Charu and Bimala—ones where they might have exercised greater agency.
At its core, Three Women is not just a retelling but a reimagining—one that questions whether women’s desires are often mistaken for romantic longing when they may, in fact, stem from deeper, unrealised ambitions.
The interview concluded on a poignant note, with Ganguly and Kundu singing Tagore’s iconic Ekla Chalo Re, a fitting tribute to the enduring message of courage and self-reliance.
Are women today truly more liberated, or have age-old struggles simply taken on new forms?
In a recent episode of Booked, India Today’s Sriya Kundu spoke with playwright, singer and author Isheeta Ganguly about her latest book, Three Women. The graphic novel revisits three iconic female figures connected to Rabindranath Tagore’s world—Charu from Charulata, Bimala from Ghare Baire, and Tagore’s sister-in-law Kadambari Devi.
Ganguly’s work explores the emotional and psychological landscapes of these women, whose lives were shaped by societal expectations, limited agency and unfulfilled aspirations. Despite being rooted in the 19th century, their experiences, she argues, remain strikingly relevant today.
From modern dating dynamics and situationships to marriage, infidelity and economic independence, Ganguly points out that while the language around relationships has evolved, the underlying emotional struggles often remain unchanged. The loneliness once confined to drawing rooms now manifests in digital silences—unanswered messages and emotionally distant connections.
The conversation also touched upon society’s continued discomfort with strong, independent women. Ganguly noted that women are still judged more harshly than men, particularly in matters of relationships and infidelity, reflecting a persistent imbalance in societal expectations.
Recalling a formative moment from her youth, Ganguly shared her encounter with legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray. When she asked him about the feminist undertones in his adaptations of Tagore’s works, Ray diplomatically sidestepped the question. This interaction, however, inspired Ganguly to imagine alternative narratives for Charu and Bimala—ones where they might have exercised greater agency.
At its core, Three Women is not just a retelling but a reimagining—one that questions whether women’s desires are often mistaken for romantic longing when they may, in fact, stem from deeper, unrealised ambitions.
The interview concluded on a poignant note, with Ganguly and Kundu singing Tagore’s iconic Ekla Chalo Re, a fitting tribute to the enduring message of courage and self-reliance.
Are women today truly more liberated, or have age-old struggles simply taken on new forms?
In a recent episode of Booked, India Today’s Sriya Kundu spoke with playwright, singer and author Isheeta Ganguly about her latest book, Three Women. The graphic novel revisits three iconic female figures connected to Rabindranath Tagore’s world—Charu from Charulata, Bimala from Ghare Baire, and Tagore’s sister-in-law Kadambari Devi.
Ganguly’s work explores the emotional and psychological landscapes of these women, whose lives were shaped by societal expectations, limited agency and unfulfilled aspirations. Despite being rooted in the 19th century, their experiences, she argues, remain strikingly relevant today.
From modern dating dynamics and situationships to marriage, infidelity and economic independence, Ganguly points out that while the language around relationships has evolved, the underlying emotional struggles often remain unchanged. The loneliness once confined to drawing rooms now manifests in digital silences—unanswered messages and emotionally distant connections.
The conversation also touched upon society’s continued discomfort with strong, independent women. Ganguly noted that women are still judged more harshly than men, particularly in matters of relationships and infidelity, reflecting a persistent imbalance in societal expectations.
Recalling a formative moment from her youth, Ganguly shared her encounter with legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray. When she asked him about the feminist undertones in his adaptations of Tagore’s works, Ray diplomatically sidestepped the question. This interaction, however, inspired Ganguly to imagine alternative narratives for Charu and Bimala—ones where they might have exercised greater agency.
At its core, Three Women is not just a retelling but a reimagining—one that questions whether women’s desires are often mistaken for romantic longing when they may, in fact, stem from deeper, unrealised ambitions.
The interview concluded on a poignant note, with Ganguly and Kundu singing Tagore’s iconic Ekla Chalo Re, a fitting tribute to the enduring message of courage and self-reliance.
