Book review: Sandip Roy on why and how Chapal Bhaduri became ‘Rani’
Summary
Sandip Roy’s book traces the life of Chapal Bhaduri, the celebrated male performer known as Chapal Rani, and his rise in Bengal’s jatra world as female impersonation shaped both his artistry and private life. The review also reflects on the decline of male queens after women entered jatra and the poignant end of Bhaduri’s later years.
Key Points
- Sandip Roy’s book profiles Chapal Bhaduri, known as Chapal Rani, as a celebrated female impersonator in Bengal’s jatra tradition.
- The review places his life within the broader history of jatra, gender fluidity, and the changing politics of performance in Bengal.
- The entry of women into jatra in the mid-1970s reduced opportunities for male queens, pushing many into poverty and other work.
- The book is praised for presenting Chapal Bhaduri as a performer shaped by art and survival rather than as a symbolic queer icon.
