Rabindranath Tagore took the story of Chitrāngadā and, in 1892, turned it into a dance drama,[1] very much like a modern day musical with the story put to music and with the characters acting out the parts in dance.[1] Tagore's story differs a bit from the story of Chitrāngadā in the Mahābhārata. He expands on the character and gives her new life.
In Tagore's story, Chitrāngadā is the only child of the King of Manipura. Being the heir to the throne, she dresses like a man and is the protector of the land. Her people look to her to keep them safe. One day, she meets Arjuna and, seeing him in action as he hunts in the forest, she falls in love. Arjuna is impressed by her fighting abilities but all along believes her to be a man. Chitrāngadā believes he could never love her the way she is. She receives a boon from Kamadeva, Hindu god of love, and transforms herself into a beautiful feminine woman. When she meets Arjuna again, he can't help but fall in love with her. Though she believes that she has everything she wants in life, deep down she wishes that he could love her for her true self. When marauders come into her kingdom to take over the villages, Arjuna learns from the people of the kingdom that their princess is the greatest warrior around and they wonder why she isn't there to help protect them now. Arjuna is impressed by the story of this woman who seems to be his equal when it comes to fighting and longs to meet her. Chitrāngadā appears and saves her kingdom before revealing her true self to Arjuna. No longer in love with her just for her beauty, Arjuna marries Chitrāngadā. They have a son named Babruvahana
In the mean time, M.K.Gandhi being anxious for Rabindranath Tagore's health, asked him the amount of deficit in the budget of Viswabharati . He learnt that the deficit was about Rs. 60,000/-. He brought the amount by cheque from Mr Birla and gave it to Rabindranath. He insisted him to avoid so much trouble for collecting money and to go back to Santiniketan. Chitrangada was also staged in Mirat on 29th March.Delhi Radio broadcasted a recitation of Rabidranath on 30th March. After travelling in north Calcutta, he returned to Santiniketan.
