One of Vijay Tendulkar’s most controversial plays, Sakharam Binder was first staged in 1974. It tells the story of the book binder Sakharam who takes home a series of women after they have been thrown out of their homes by their respective husbands. In return for providing shelter, Sakharam exploits the women by getting them to perform household tasks and occasionally, for sexual favors. The play opens with the seventh woman Laxmi who is docile and timid by nature. After exploiting her for a few days, Sakharam throws her out and brings the next woman Champa, who is flamboyant and head-strong. Things get complicated after a few days when Laxmi returns. What follows is a succession of unexpected events which culminate into a dramatic end.