There’s an uneasy calm about the place. The announcements from the Central Station close by cut through the silence. The only other sound is from the fluttering festoons and banners and the creaking hinges of the makeshift tent. There is plenty of time for the show. For now, the performers are practising, after which they will retire to their rooms to rest, dress up and be back at the venue at 1 p.m. for their acts of daredevilry.
The whole set-up is very retro — colourful stripes and stars, mismatched plastic chairs, the overpowering smell of incense, Great Bombay Circus written in bold glittery letters, and worn-out red carpets that bear testimony to the circus’ thriving past. But manager P.C. Jayaprakashan believes the reign of the circus is far from over. “As long as there are children we will do well. It’s an opportunity for them to see these fascinating live acts. No amount of video games can change that,” he says.
Great Bombay Circus is also one of the oldest circuses in the country. It was founded in 1920 in Hyderabad (now in Pakistan) by Babu Rao Kadam, a Maratha, who gave it its name. The first few shows took place in Ludhiana.
It came to Madras for the first time in 1993-94 and has been a regular fixture here ever since. Chennai is also the city where it runs the longest as there is tremendous response here. “This time we are here for 90 days with three performances daily. After this we go to Kerala. That’s where the present owners (K.M. Dileepnath and K.M. Sanjeev) of the circus live,” Jayaprakashan says. However, this will be the circus’ last performance at the SIAA Grounds as there are plans to put the grounds for other use. “Finding such large grounds within city limits nowadays is a challenge,” he adds.
Finally, it is show time. The bell rings and we are ushered in. Giant table fans whir to life as kids in shorts and frocks trickle in with their parents and grandparents. The excitement is palpable. It’s four-year-old Anjana’s first time at the circus. She has seen it in picture books and on television but now is set to experience it. She’s even dressed in a long frilly blue dress with matching bangles and heels.
The ever-popular clown prances onto the stage leading a group of male trapeze artists. They swing upside down and then smoothly leap from one trapeze to another. More clowns parade past and the little ones in the audience giggle almost instinctively. One of the clowns, the shortest of the lot, is also the oldest member of this circus. ‘Tulsi maama’, as he is fondly called, is 66 but hops about with the grace of a 16-year-old.
Acrobatic acts follow and then come the group of men from Tanzania who call themselves ‘Dragon’. They specialise in the fire limbo act. While one swallows and spits out fire the others do the limbo sliding under a stick engulfed in flames.
Their repertoire also includes an act where they climb up and down two poles in dramatic ways. “Five years of practice hold us in good stead,” they say. The group is here on a contract which ends in May. They have been travelling with various circuses and have performed in South Africa and Germany earlier.
More heart-stopping acts follow. Not much has changed with the circus music except that there’s a bit of Enrique and Black Eyed Peas thrown in.
Thirty-five-year old Sethu walks onto the stage to perform the Chinese Roller act, a stunt that the Russians made popular. Just as it was dying, Sethu and a few others trained in it. Sethu’s parents were Chinese circus artists and she was born into the circus. She’s even married to a trapeze artist. “He is in Kerala now because my younger son’s X Board exams are on. My older son is studying engineering,” she proudly announces. Do they come to watch her perform? “Now for a while they haven’t come,” she says.
The act starts with Sethu balancing on a roller to which more levels are added as she juggles objects. “It took six months to learn this. We fall, pick ourselves up and go through the whole rigmarole till we master it,” she smiles. She has spent 12 years with this troupe and has travelled across the country with it. She also enthusiastically informs that Great Bombay Circus has had the privilege of being part of a couple of films.
Actor Suriya’s film 7aum Arivu was shot with this circus troupe in Coimbatore and they were also part of a song for Krrish along with Hrithik Roshan.
Meanwhile the heroes of this circus soldier on — two men ride bikes in tandem inside a large globe, outside three young lads balance themselves on sharp spades, while a cyclist balances an artiste on his shoulder and rides a tiny bicycle along the rim of the ring.
With these acts, everything hangs in the balance — their future in the field, their livelihood and their safety. And then the applause from the gathered crowd seals their fate. Yet another good show. And dare I say they have tamed gravity... for now.
