A scene from an Abahan Theatre production called Kabuliwalar Bideshi Koina. Picture by Eastern Projections

Guwahati, May 20: Assam?s popular mobile theatres are going big-budget with the attendant trappings of a high-profile cast.

Sakuntala Theatre, a new entrant, has announced a budget of nearly Rs 1 crore ? an astronomical sum for stagecraft ? for its first year?s venture.

There?s more for the diehard mobile-theatre buff.

Veteran actor Nipon Goswami will return to the stage after a gap of nearly 10 years and the glamorous Prastuti Parashar will make her debut on the mobile stage.

An upbeat Diganta Biswas, producer of Sakuntala Theatre, admitted that convincing the two ?big names? to perform on stage was a ?coup of sorts?.

?Having two of the leading stars from the film world is a big bonus. And we hope to give the viewers something they will cherish for years,? he said.

Though the Nalbari-based group has lined up four plays for this season, the main expenses, according to Biswas, will be incurred in staging O Bideshi Bandhu ? a love triangle set against the backdrop of last year?s killer tsunami.

?The drama depicts the story of a young girl from an European country who is caught in the disaster and loses her memory. The Indian guide falls in love with her though she is already engaged to one of her compatriots,? Biswas said.

The other plays of the group include Sun Sara Swapna and Morome Bichare Mon and another social drama.

There are nearly 20 mobile theatre groups in Assam.