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Assam’s mobile theater is something that has not only stood the test of time, but also survived the brutal onslaught of the Covid-19 pandemic, which brought an end to many once popular cinema halls. Assam’s mobile theater scene has gone from strength to strength and this is due to the love that the people of Assam have showered on various theater groups and performers.
Assam’s mobile theater is similar to what we know of live theater performances, but with some differences. Here the theater company performs while traveling from one place to another. The stage is set in large fields or playgrounds, and elaborate sets are designed and built to be disassembled, packed, and transported from one location to another. Mobile theater productions focus heavily on entertainment and are usually full of action, romance, conflict, excitement and elevated theatrical performances.
The concept of mobile theaters is deeply rooted in Assamese culture and lifestyle. He always was and always will be. Not only do the people of this region appreciate the phenomenal hard work that goes into making each show a success, but they also know that most of the people involved in these bands work mostly out of passion because the financial rewards are meager. So, crowds flock as much to be entertained as they are to appreciate and applaud the task that will make these shows stunning.
My last encounter with Assam Mobile TheatreRe:
Last week I was literally stared at by one of my dear friends. The last theater performance I saw was a decade ago. After that, although I often wanted to visit a local group, the idea never materialized. But this time, at the repeated request of a friend, I decided to give in to my impulses, and what an experience it has been! We watched a Rajmukut play at Dispur College Playground in Ganeshguri and the drama was Birikhor Birina.
Before going to the show, there was a lot of give and take between me and my friend about what the title of the drama might mean. While we were thinking about the grand ideas and concepts it could refer to, it turned out that the name of the drama was inspired by the names of the two main characters in the story. Birikh was the hero and Birina was the heroine. The name literally meant “Birikh’s Birina”. The drama is penned by Rajdweep who is also credited to have written and composed the extremely beautiful title track of the drama. Popular Assamese actors Utpal Das and Debashree Gogoi play the titular characters of Birikh and Birina. I never expected to see the kind of crowd that ended up turning out for the show.
All about the drama Brikhor Birina:
The story revolves around a simple village boy, Birikh, who is madly in love with Birin. Unfortunately, he never dared to tell her his heart and she doesn’t even know he exists. On the other hand, Birina is a devoted daughter to a loving father. Her father decides to marry Birin to a fool (hilariously named Unmad Ranjan Hazarika) who poses as a businessman, persuaded by her evil and cunning aunt Madhurima Borpujari. Madhurima’s plan is to take away all the wealth from Birna after the marriage and shower it on her own son at the same time. But things don’t go according to plan as the Birikh lands find themselves in the middle of an elaborate conspiracy. What happens next is the crux of the play.
The logistical marvels that are mobile theaters:
Although theaters have been around for centuries, Assam’s mobile theater is nothing more than a logistical marvel. I can just imagine that the whole set up, including the performance stage, which is expected to accommodate multiple setups and allow for elaborate dance numbers and action sequences, gives me goosebumps. Add to that the fact that the same stage has to host more than three two-hour shows, and back-to-back too, and you get a sense of the craft that goes into making it stand strong. Every time the actors walked onto the narrow board and performed their dance steps with ease and comfort, I couldn’t help but watch in awe. Every time the main character got into a fight with a bunch of villains, where they jumped, jumped and attacked each other as if they were fighting on concrete, my heart was in my mouth. When I entered the tent and took a closer look at the entire setup, I realized that the set up was anything but cool. Many portions separated. The wood gave way and the stage creaked and moved every time the actors walked in certain portions. However, this never affected their performances. I would run for my life if asked to do stunts on a stage like that. I don’t even want to think about the other logistical parts like green room, electrical, sound design, etc.
For the uninitiated, Assam’s mobile theaters unfold in two stages set up side by side. A scene unfolds in one of the scenes and the next scene unfolds in the other while they prepare the previous stage for the next scene. A song and dance routine uses the time gap between the parts of the song and the particular scene that is used to depict the same, even more innovatively than the dramatic scenes and usually the moments of the performance. One thing that completely baffled me about the whole process was how quickly the actors changed between different costumes and still looked perfect.
Actors and their performances:
Which brings me to the performances. I really can’t find the words to praise the performances enough. To continue the action with such energy and vigor for two hours and not forget a single word of dialogue is mesmerizing. Note that there are no repeats here. Just thinking about these actors doing the same thing for six hours straight made it more confusing every day.
Utpal Das is a familiar face in Assam and for all the right reasons. His performance was the backbone of the entire drama as he featured in every scene of the play. He romances, he creates comedies, he fights like there’s no tomorrow, and then he portrays tragedy with sincerity. His performance in front of a packed crowd in a poorly ventilated tent was good enough to keep the audience glued to their stiff plastic chairs. They even cheered for him in certain circumstances. Need I say more?
Debashree Gogoi as Birina was no less. She was the epitome of flawless beauty and a pure heart that would make a simple boy like Birikh fall in love with her. The way she switched between different looks and the comfort level she portrayed in each of the avatars, that too in such a short span of time, was impressive. The flamboyance she portrayed in the song and dance routine sent the audience into a frenzy.
I couldn’t find the name of the actor who played MLA da but his performance was as good as the lead pair. Sometimes it was even better. He was the comic backbone of the story, and without him the drama would lose much of its luster.
Direction and technique:
I loved the direction and the elaborate sets. The lighting was temperamental and added to what was happening on screen. I would like to say that this not only added to the mood of the proceedings, but also helped to suspend disbelief. This aspect of the play can be seen in the scenes where Birikh is shown dying in prison or the scenes that open at the bus stop. The flow of the story was organic. The writing falters in parts and there is some repetitive dialogue that could have easily been avoided, but none of that takes away from the fun of the game or the craft that went into creating the experience.
Final thoughts:
I have to admit that it was an experience very similar to the cinema treatment. The only thing it lacked was different camera angles, which is practically impossible. For every other cinematic quality and trope, the makers had an answer. There were even some interlacing scenes where something was happening somewhere and at the same moment, something related to it was happening somewhere else. It was an amazing achievement in terms of storytelling and execution.
Assam’s mobile theater is not only a pride of the state and a symbol of culture, but also a case study of how cinema can be transformed by live performances, techniques, ingenuity and the support of a loyal audience. For those who have not experienced this spectacle up close, I urge you to definitely watch at least one drama this theater season, which has just started and will continue until the rains hit in May.
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