In an age where people can opt to watch a movie in an air-conditioned movie hall, or stream the latest movies and shows on their phone in the comfort of their own homes, why would people still come out in huge numbers to sit on plain old plastic chairs inside a makeshift tent to watch mobile theatre? Maybe the fact that you can actually see the story unfold right in front of you, instead of through the screen, is thrilling, or maybe it has something to do with the fact that the audience is much livelier and is not shy of shouting out witty comments, making it way more immersive. Whatever the reason, anyone who has experienced mobile theatre will have to agree that there is something quite special about watching a show. In Assam, mobile theatre has become a major entertainment industry, said to be worth crores. We take a look at its history, and how it managed to give the film industry in the State a run for its money.
Staged Stories
When Assamese films started suffering from heavy losses in the late 90s and early 20s, the theatre was initially seen simply as an alternative, both for the actors and the people of Assam in general. But, with time, the theatre industry started to grow in popularity. The first mobile theatre group of Assam was established in 1963. It was Nataraj Theatre, founded by playwright and actor Achyut Lahkar, who is commonly referred to as the father of mobile theatre or Bhryamyman, as otherwise known in Assam.
This story is from the September 2020 edition of Eclectic Northeast.
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This story is from the September 2020 edition of Eclectic Northeast.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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