Stories by Rabindranath Tagore

Anurag Basu has given Rabindranath Tagore's stories a realistic punch keeping the British India that we read of only in our History Textbooks. These episodes are all based on Rabindranath Tagore's Short Stories. Shot in old Kolkata to keep the late 1800's and early 1900's along with the attire of those days, which before was only limited to books.

He has shown us those raw emotions that Rabindranath Tagore expresses in his stories, those twists and turns at the most unexpected times, and the same thrill that used to keep the readers of his books keep their lights on till the wee hours of morning at their bedside being given to us in our television sets, along with the background scores which elates to the scene, making this series beautiful.

This series is a collection of Rabindranath Tagore stories. Already while watching it I bought myself a book of his stories to read more by him as I loved the scenarios. It is also very amazing how at that time he was already very much pro gender equality as one can see in his strong female characters.

I am not too familiar in Indian culture and it was a nice introduction to the life and traditions back at the time when the stories take place. Each story is unique and beautifully told. The acting is great and what I loved the most was the beautiful scenery one can see in each story that makes one even more interested in that beautiful culture. It was a delight to watch.

This is a series of connected stories, the tail end of one becoming the beginning of the next. The series is in Hindi with occasional English words and phrases.

The stories seem to take place in the 1950s, that is the look and feeling conveyed. Many of the stories have extended flashbacks to earlier times. The photography is beautiful and the locales fascinating.

But it is the soulful stories that will grip you. They're deeply reflective of the culture. The complexities of arranged marriages and familial situations feel authentic and original to this Westerner's eye. Music is an integral part of many of the stories, and it's wonderfully done. Characters sing to one another, with lyrics that obliquely refer to the person they're singing to. This is especially effective when the two people are in love but are for one reason or another unable to be together.

How Americans will take to this is not easy to predict. This is not a Merchant Ivory film, that is, one targeted to American and European audiences. But the production values are just as good and if you allow yourself to go with the flow, you may find this as charming as I do.

In response to the review by ekeby, I feel there are many in America who would enjoy this series, and maybe use it as a springboard to learn more about Rabindranath Tagore and his works ... provided it is brought to their attention ... maybe a promotional banner on the Netflix home page?

The series is a delight to the senses, with an attention to detail in all aspects of production ... the camera work and the settings, the color and lighting, the props and the costumes. The musical score is an added delight. I enjoy the performances, even though I have to rely upon English subtitles - I genuinely believe what the characters say, and the emotions they display with honesty and a total lack of melodrama.

I am only into Episode 7, but I plan on seeing this series through all the way to the end. Does it faithfully transfer Tagore's writings to the television screen? That I can't say ... but I hope to correct that in the near future with a visit to the bookstores in search of English translations of those writings.

The Television, despite being a very powerful and influential media all across the globe, has always remained an unrecognized force with respect to the Indian context. Although, there has been some flickers here , a sliver of hope there , yet nothing concrete has come out over the years.

"Stories by Rabindranath Tagore" will definitely provide the much needed respite to the Indian Televiewers,with sheer class. The helmsman Anurag Basu has the adequate expertise and vision to translate and deliver the beautifully layered timeless classics of the Bard onto a media through which the larger part of the country can savor their almost unhampered glory.

The series starts with the story "Chokher Bali" about the various dilemmas of a young widow's life in the backdrop of social renaissance in a colonized Bengal. "Binodini" played by Radhika Apte to the hilt is a masterpiece indeed. The viewer will be moved by her portrayal, and the play of emotions on her almost no-makeup countenance, the shadow of a despair and melancholy in her smile, beautifully complemented by the background score based on Tagore's songs. The cast and crew specially Sumit as "Bihari" deserve special mention. The director's expertise comes in the fact that each member of the unit have outperformed themselves. The Rabindrasangeet "Amaro Porano Jaha Chai" rendered by the soulful voice of Arijit Singh steals the show.

The last scene of "Chokher Bali" connects with the story "Atithi" in signature style of Anurag Basu with the Baul Sangeet in the background and the Bolpur Station in the background would make any Bengali nostalgic. Definitely, this series shows immense promise and I am keenly looking forward to the classics Noshtonir, Charulata, Kabuliwala on the small screen. #EPICAT10