- Thursday, February 27, 2025
With circuses being constrained by the severe restrictions on the exhibition of animals in addition to a ban on training children in acrobatics, it’s a struggle to capture the interest of the spending public.
By: Shubham Ghosh
ONCE it was a people’s favourite, particularly during winter. But times have changed today so much so that circuses and the people associated with it are facing an existential threat.
Tears welled up in the eyes of Gangadharan, as he recalled how difficult it had been for him to put on the costume of a clown and walk to the circus ring to entertain the crowd, just a few minutes after receiving a telegram about his father’s death.
This was decades ago.
“Whatever happens, the show must go on,” said 72-year old Gangadharan, who was born in a circus tent to parents who were also circus artistes.
Although circuses tend to feature people with dwarfism in the role of clowns, Gangadharan is not a person of short stature. He found recognition for his ability to pull off comic stunts. Along with his elder brother, Gangadharan soon became a major attraction in circus.
He also acted in films with south Indian actors Mammooty, Kamal Haasan and Bollywood’s Mithun Chakraborty — a fact he states proudly.
Gangadharan, who is part of the Jumbo Circus currently playing at the famous Putharikandam Ground in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of the southern state of Kerala, has been in the business for three-and-half decades, first with Gemini Circus and then with Jumbo.
He has become a father figure to all the clowns in the company.
With circuses being constrained by the severe restrictions on the exhibition of animals in addition to a ban on training children in acrobatics, it’s a struggle to capture the interest of the spending public.
“It cannot survive too long. We do not have children training to perform, and the existing artists will retire soon. We have none to learn new tricks from and no animals to showcase,” Raveendran, 87, a former trapeze acrobat and trainer who works with Jumbo Circus told PTI.
Raveendran stands tall defying his age and has an amazing memory of all that he experienced during his career in the circus.
The ailing industry, of which people like Raveendran are an integral part of, is now seeking aid from the government to ensure the survival of hundreds of families.
Ajay Shankar, who owns two of India’s top circus companies, Gemini Circus and Jumbo Circus, which were built by his legendary father ‘Gemini’ M V Shankaran, spoke of the need for government intervention to keep the industry afloat.
“We survived three years of COVID lockdown. I had to keep going as there were more than 200 families depending on the circus,” Ajay Shankar said.
When businesses reopened, circus companies too started to attract record crowds. Many performers returned to the rings. But what about times when the circus cannot function, asks Ajay Shankar, urging the government to provide the industry with some cash loans during off-season.
“We have to spend Rs 1.5 lakh per day. We can survive the off-season only if we get a good amount in excess of that expenditure (during peak season),” Shankar said.
The government of Kerala has said on its part that it would consider the demands of the circus industry. “If they submit a memorandum with regard to their demands to the government, then that would be considered favourably,” the state’s culture minister Saji Cheriyan told the news outlet.
As circus companies fight for their survival, Kerala feels the pain acutely. And at its heart is Thalassery, a town in north Kerala’s Kannur district, known for its circus glory.
Apart from Kerala, other Indian states such as West Bengal and Maharashtra also had circus companies around the same time. Almost every circus that originated in Kerala has had owners from Thalassery, and all those who work in the industry also usually belong to the heritage city.
“Thalassery had training rings run by Keeleri Kunhikannan (a martial arts trainer and gymnast) much before the launch of circus shows in India,” said Raveendran, who joined the circus at a young age.
Circus companies from Kerala took centre stage when M V Shankaran bought the Vijaya circus company from R V Mamoo of Maharashtra and renamed it Gemini Circus, earning himself the eponym ‘Gemini’ Shankaran.
“At one point, we had 44 elephants, 19 lions, 30 tigers, several bears, leopards, and hippopotami in the Gemini circus. That was why it was so famous,” Ajay Shankar told PTI.
In their heyday, circuses in India were much sought after. The tent erected at Putharikandam Grounds for the ongoing Onam season displays huge photographs of the late circus owner being felicitated by former prime ministers and presidents of India.
“We still get a 50 per cent concession if we book a train to move our circus from one location to another. This was given to us by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. It remains the only government help that the industry has received so far,” Ajay Shankar said.
Circus companies such as Jumbo are now depending on artistes from foreign countries to spark interest among the public. If Russians were the earlier attractions, now African performers are stealing the show.
“They are too expensive. But we have no other option,” he said.
Antony, a circus performer from Tanzania in Africa told PTI, “I have come here on a one-year contract. I do weight lifting, fire dancing, and acrobatics here. I may move to another company next year, or if the present company wants to extend the contract, I will stay.”
There are eight performers from west Africa with Jumbo Circus at present. Ajay Shankar is sceptical about keeping the charm of the circus intact due to the lack of new homegrown artistes.
“We can now recruit people only above 18. At least they should allow us to train willing children who can join us when they become adults. Only great performers can train these children, and if there are no fresh batches, we may not have trainers either,” he said. All hope is not lost, some insiders say.
Indian dancer couple Tanya and Mukesh, who have been with Jumbo circus from a young age — and fell in love and later got married — became the runners-up in the popular television show India’s Got Talent. They still remember the time they spent with Indian actor Shah Rukh Khan.
“We even participated in the Asia’s Got Talent show,” Mukesh said. Ajay Shankar said these talents should be recognised at the government level. He is hopeful this industry will survive for another 30 or so years, as he sees a renewed interest in people watching live entertainment events.
(With PTI inputs)
