Chitrangada and Shyama, creatively separated by three decades, most popular as dance-dramas, present Rabindranath Tagore's continuing quest for and questioning of the multidimensional 
character of love. Both the women protagonists in these plays are strong characters, outstripping their male counterparts in impact. Yet, they represent binary aspects of love, Chitrangada  unveiling its compassionate and self-liberating aspect, and Shyama its all-consuming sensual manifestation. 
The plays, then, have been brought together under a single cover to emphasize the depth of Rabindranath's understanding of the essence of human love, and its enigmatic nature, as enigmatic as the women he painted.