MUMBAI : Clowns, juggling artistes, trapeze performers and a dash of animal performances put together at the circus would mean squeals of laughter from children in the early nineties. But with the advent of X-box games, movies and other instant modes of gratification, circuses have seen a drop in audiences and how! Currently, they are trying to make ends meet and demanding that the government classify them under the ‘arts category.’
What distinguishes a circus from a televised act is the real-time experience it provides. All the stunts, acts and juggling have to be timed, with ample practice and there are no retakes. If you fall, you are on your own, with a broken back or injured spine, packed off home. One of the acrobats from Rambo Circus, Shamsher Singh, echoes the thought and says, “It’s an individual factor, depending on one’s luck. It so happened that during a sky-acrobatics session I lost my balance and fell. But, luck favoured me and I escaped with minor injuries. Not everyone is lucky and many families have lost their breadwinner to freak mishaps.”
There was a time when the circus had its glitz and glamour. The sashaying ladies with hula-hoops and the circus clown would get gushing accolades. Now, with so much glamour in films, why would anyone try going to a circus? Baby Kesari, who has spent 20 years training girls and performing on stage, says, “The circus is our life. We love attention from the audience and when things go fine, we are elated. We have our good and bad days.”
In many cases, societal rejection draws most circus artists to these places. Society rejects whatever seems out of context and when midgets try making a linear life, they get rejected.
One of the midgets who acts as a clown at Rambo Circus, Biju Nair, explains it as a case of “threaten what you cannot comprehend phenomenon. One of the clowns who went outside the circus premises was abused by the locals and mocked for his dwarf-like appearance.”
Which also brings to the fore the issue of social stigma associated with working in a circus. These people who work at the circus want to feel accepted by society and not ridiculed by it. The circus is their only haven, where appreciation pours in and is ardently welcome after having been mocked by society for ages.
Nair adds, “We live like a close-knit family and are constantly on the move. The circus is our life and this is our world. Nothing beyond is important or crucial.”
He has kept his profession a secret from his family in Kerala. He explains, “My kids are well-educated and working. They would smirk if the truth comes out and hiding myself beneath this clown’s mask is the only resort.”
There are film workers’ and cine workers’ associations to help TV serial and film staff with identity cards and other provisions. But, a circus worker continues to lives without a support system. There are no identity cards issued and no government support for any unions. This makes their future uncertain when one considers that it is the circus proprietors who determine their pay packages.
Baby Kesari adds, “We want the government to address our woes. When everyone else is an artist with a proper card, why are we neglected? Baby’s two daughters have master’s degrees and she is an ardent advocate of education.
This echoes the sentiments of current circus workers, who cannot migrate to other professions because of educational barriers and staying on in the circus is not a long term option, since opportunities to grow are few and far in between.
Putting on a show for the public, with thrills, acts and glamour is standard circus fare . Earlier, animals like chimpanzees, tigers, and lions were kept captive and trained, but after the government passed laws banning the use of these animals, the downfall of the circus was inevitable. Currently, dogs, horses and elephants are the showstoppers at Rambo circus.
But, all is not lost, since appreciation comes from myriad quarters. Circus owners are always trying to pick up new acts from across the world, which will make their show successful. With this aim in view, Mr Sujit Dileep, proprietor of Rambo, tours various countries to find interesting acts.
The Rambo crew has had its brush with stardom as well. They have performed with Bollywood star Hrithik Roshan in the film ‘Luck By Chance.’ The movie had a song set in a circus, where the protagonist dances with circus artists. One artist reminisces, “The shoot went on for 10 days and the director was upbeat about having us perform. We were highly regarded for our craft and when the shoot ended, we clicked pictures with all the stars.”
But that was some years ago. The future seems bleak, with technology replacing real circus acts. But, maybe with a twist and some new ideations, the circus may once again become the land of entertainment. A frequent movie-goer, Chiranjeevi Ahire says, “Timing is critical and the circus should adapt to better time slots. Going at 8 pm and sitting through a three-hour show gets monotonous. If better acts come, then I will go, since nothing beats the real talent these people possess.”
If such praise does not inspire a fresh burst of creativity, what will? More success to the circus!
