Chokher Bali - An Upheaval of Emotions!

Chokher Bali is not just a novel. It’s a reflection of the emotional ups and downs of human nature. Reading it feels like sitting on an emotional rollercoaster—you start off without knowing what to expect, get caught in all kinds of turbulence, and by the end, you’re back where you began, but not quite the same.

Take Asha, for instance. She goes through all kinds of emotions—hurt, betrayal, helplessness, and eventually, maturity. But in the end, she justifies her husband's betrayal by convincing herself that he is irresistible, so anyone can fall in love with him. That one line carries so much weight and sarcasm. It makes you stop and think—what we perceive and go through is often clouded by our own ignorance.

Asha believed Binodini loved Mahendra. But in truth, Binodini was furious with Mahendra for not giving her the rightful place she felt she deserved by marrying her. She was frustrated with Bihari as he deeply cared for Asha. She was jealous of Asha. Yet, she cared for her deeply. That’s what I loved about her character—she was layered, not a flat ‘other woman’ trope.

She thought she was manipulating everyone around her, but honestly, she was being manipulated too. Mahendra, with all his drama, didn’t even let her letters reach Bihari. On so many occasions, her choices were driven by the way others played with her emotions.

Bihari, on the other hand, comes across as calm and mature—like the sea appears to us. But even he has his flaws. He has feelings for Binodini but just can’t bring himself to confess them. That hesitation acts like ghee on fire, creating more confusion and drama.

And Mahendra? Ah, Mahendra. The eternal man-child. Pampered since childhood, emotionally erratic, and always swinging between Asha and Binodini. He tries too hard to be everything to everyone and ends up being loyal to no one. I disliked him, mostly because his moral compass seemed entirely biased and self-serving.

Now, coming to the movie—I had watched it years ago, way before I read the book for the first time in 2008. Aishwarya Rai as Binodini and Tota Roy Chowdhury as Bihari—they really left a mark. I still visualized them while reading. But the movie took a few creative liberties. It added a pregnancy to Asha’s arc to increase the emotional intensity, but Tagore never needed that. He portrayed sorrow through restraint and silence.

Also, the physical intimacy between Binodini and Mahendra that’s shown so prominently in the film? It’s not like that in the novel. The book keeps it subtle, making the emotional tension all the more powerful.

I read the English translation by Sukhendu Ray ji, and I must say, if not for him, I wouldn’t have been able to read this masterpiece twice. He made a few tweaks, sure, but it feels like he tried his best to preserve Tagore’s voice and emotion.

So yes, for me, the novel wins. It has more depth, more layers, and it stays with you long after you turn the last page.