Click to play videoNew Delhi: It's true that today the great Indian circus has lost a lot of its magic. But surely something can be done to reinvent it and give it a new lease of life. Can a little institutional support and some out of the box ideas help the circus bounce back to life?
Natasha, Russian artist, has grown up performing for the Moscow Circus in Russia. This is her fourth visit to India and she's showcasing her talent in the Great Bombay Circus.
Natasha says Russian circus combines drama and cultural history with great performances and that's what keeps it alive. Today Indian circus owners are trying to cash in on Russian artists by roping them in on a regular basis.
Natasha says, “All circus want Russian artist and now coming people because want see wow how working Russian artist.”
But unlike Russia there's no support for circus from the government in India. Circus is not even recognized as an art form here. Experts say bringing in policy is tough because there's no formal census on the number of people involved.
Craft Revival Trust Managing Trustee Ritu Sethi says, “The minute a number is put to it and it is seen as a vote bank, there will be, let me assure you, a great deal of political will behind it.”
“We need to have performance spaces, which are open and accessible not only by our greatest musicians and dancers but also by itinerant performers. And, I would like to include circuses in that group also,” Sethi adds.
Like circus, a few years back this Maharashtrian sport mallakhamb was barely surviving. But initiatives from the Government and citizens are paying off. Mallakhamb has been recognised as a traditional sport and its sportspersons are now honoured with awards. It will even be showcased at the 2010 Commonwealth games.
Mallakhamb Federation of India President Khanade Bindusar says, “From last year government is funding us and in central government sports policy, they identified mallakhamb as special indigenous game and in their thrust area they're going to try to develop mallakhamb at international level.”
Vinod Bahuguna feels circus deserves similar encouragement. He's been making people laugh for 22 years now. He's traveled and performed abroad and is disappointed that Indian circus artists receive no incentives from the state.
Vinod Bahuguna, who is a clown in the Great Bombay Circus says, “Here there is always question of life and death and we never get applause for it, we never get recognise for it.”
Theatre director Roysten Abel is involved in making traditional arts more palatable for the audience. He's taken the joginath sapera community from being street snake charmers to an international orchestra. He says a little creativity and vision can take circus to new heights too.
Theatre Director Roysten Abel says, “Take the theatricality of the circus and find new idioms to do with their performances which would have to be extremely innovative, things people would be seeing for the first time like circuses like the Circus-Haus in Australia, Cirque De Sole etc. They do a whole ballet aerially. We need to think in those terms other than have the same act of man flying from one trapeze to another and then falling down.”
And all circus owners, artists and experts have one demand in common - a training institute for circus.
Rajeev Sethi from Asian Heritage Foundation says, “There are schools of circus arts in every country. We don't have them. Now if we did have them they wouldn't keep repeating the same old formula.”
“If a school can teach you singing, or classical singing or classical dance, why can't it teach you circus arts too? What's wrong with learning to be a clown? What's wrong with learning to be a great acrobat? “ Sethi adds.
In the absence of recognition, formal training and government initiatives, the Indian circus today is a dying art.
Sethi says, “There is no pride, there is no privilege in being able to follow this form that does bring so much joy to so many hearts, that generation after generation has the same magical hold on you and this because there is being no effort to honour them, to create as an art form.”
But somehow circus artists continue to believe that the circus is forever. Despite the tough times, the scarcity of talent, the absence of an audience and fears about the future they insist that the show will go on.
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