Star Theatre
স্টার থিয়েটার
Also known as Renamed Binodini Theatre.
The most famous stage of the Bengali public theatre.
About Star Theatre
The Star company was founded in 1883 with the actress Binodini Dasi at its centre and Girish Chandra Ghosh as its playwright; Sri Ramakrishna came to watch a play by the company. It moved to this site on what is now Bidhan Sarani in 1888. The hall was gutted by fire in 1991 and rebuilt behind its restored façade by the city corporation, reopening in the 2000s mainly as a cinema with occasional stage shows. The state has since renamed it after Binodini.
Why visit
The best-known surviving address of Hatibagan’s theatre para.
What to see and do
- The restored façade on Bidhan Sarani
- A film or show inside, if one is on
Plan your visit
- Area
- Hatibagan, North Kolkata
- Nearest landmark
- Hatibagan crossing
- Best time
- Evening. October to March is the most comfortable time of year.
- Time needed
- About 20 minutes
- Cost
- Usually under ₹100 a head
- Entry
- Open to the public with a ticket. The exterior is on the public road. Entry is with a ticket for a screening or show.
- Metro
- Sovabazar Sutanuti or Shyambazar (Blue Line)
- Walking
- Little walking
- Photography
- Photography is fine with some care.
Nearby and related places
- Hatibagan Market: North Kolkata’s pavement market for saris, clothes and everything else.
- Minerva Theatre: An 1893 playhouse on Beadon Street that still stages plays.
- Girish Chandra Dey & Nakur Chandra Nandy: Sandesh specialists since 1844, sold through a grille in a side lane.
- Sovabazar Rajbari: The palace of Raja Nabakrishna Deb, and a Durga Puja kept since 1757.
- Mitra Cafe: A tiny cabin serving cutlets, kabiraji and brain chop since 1920.
- Pareshnath Jain Temple: A garden of four Jain temples glittering with mirror-work and coloured glass.
Walks that include it
- Old North Kolkata Walk: From the five-point crossing to the potters’ ghat
More guides
- Places in Hatibagan
- Heritage places in Kolkata
- Things to do on a rainy day
- Places near a metro station
- All places to visit in Kolkata
Last checked on 2026-10-02. Each place was checked to exist and its position confirmed. Timings, closing days and ticket prices are shown only where known and can change: confirm before you travel.