Actress Prastuti Parasar. Telegraph picture

Oct. 1: Assamese commercial cinema may in death throes but the mobile theatre industry continues to entertain the masses 50 years after Achyut Lahkar formed the first troupe in October 1963.

This is even more evident from the way Hengul theatre’s Bijoya Daxami is attracting crowds. Whether it’s to witness Prastuti Parashar dancing on a raised pedestal that literally goes up, up and away… or to watch Bipul Das play an honest official is immaterial. What really matters is that Bijoya Daxami is selling full houses.

As the evening set in, Rukmini Nagar here witnessed a severe traffic jam on Sunday with motorcycles and cars thronging to the venue of one of the most popular mobile theatre groups, Hengul.

More than 2,000 city residents, occupying every row and the gallery, waited patiently till Prastuti made an entry. The actress, a popular face in Assamese movies, was a distant star till a few years ago. But now, she appeared just a few metres from them — dancing, talking, laughing.

It was playwright Abhjijeet Bhattacharjya’s Bijoya Daxami, Hengul’s last presentation at Rukmini Nagar.

Such was the rush that despite a houseful 5.30pm show, Hengul organised another show at 8.30pm to entertain those who could not get seats for the first show.

The overwhelming response to Hengul had come at a time when over 10 air-conditioned cinemas screen Hollywood and Bollywood movies everyday. It proved that the mobile theatre industry, which had its humble beginnings in the hands of Achyut Lahkar way back in 1963, has become a professional institution, capable of assessing people’s tastes and good at selling its products.

Rather than making efforts to sell ideology with a dull presentation, Hengul showed the audience that its thrust area was entertainment, and if required, it was ready to incorporate elements from entertaining films.

Songs, which were not part of mobile theatres till a decade ago, are now an essential part of it.

Young lyricist Raj Dweep contributed two songs — Jwoli Jwoli Uthe Aaji Dusokute and Tu Hi Tu Dikhe Ab Toh Mujhe — for Bijoya Daxami.

Besides, Bipul Das’s enactment of the role of an honest official moved the audience and earned their praise.

The All Assam Students’ Union today offered respects to all actors, employees and workers associated with the mobile theatre industry for completing 50 successful years and asked the Centre and the state government to honour Achyut Lahkar, the father of mobile theatre, with a national award and the highest state award.