After gap of two years, Circus back in town at NTR Stadium

Huge colourful tents pitched on an open ground, music blaring out and performers dressed in bright attires, all gearing up to go on the stage as the crowd holds on to their breath for hours of enthralling performances. Missing in action for a few years, circus to many is a thing of the past.

However, bringing back the same excitement and breathtaking performances — from acrobats and trapeze acts to tightrope walkers and magicians — is Rambo Circus Company, who are performing at the Hunar Haat exhibition at NTR Stadium in the city.

Making a comeback after two years of pandemic, the circus artists are quite enthusiastic about the performance.

For many artists, the circus is the only source of their livelihood. While for others like dwarf artists Anil Kumar (35) and Abbas (25), who have worked in movies with the likes of Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar, it is the smile on their audiences faces



that keeps them going.

“Circus is our identity. No one recognises my face, but once I put the makeup on, people come to me for selfies,” he says.

Circus has had a special place in the country’s entertainment history. However, with the advent of technology, especially television, the circus audience has thinned. While many might claim that it is a dying art, Sujit P Dilip, the owner of Rambo Circus Company is working hard to not only keep this culture alive, but also take it on the international stage.

“International circus artistes get a lot of respect,” says Sujit, adding, “They get a circus artiste card, they travel in rich cars. But in India the circus culture is losing out. I am working on reviving those old times and taking the Indian circus on an international platform.” Sujit plans to open a circus school, train artists and take them to international stages in the future.