Circus brings thrilling novelty acts to Tiruchi

Residents in Tiruchi have yet another source of entertainment to enjoy the winter break: the Jumbo Circus that set up its Big Top in mid-December on Airport Road and has been attracting a steady stream of visitors ever since.

“Circuses are popular among the people of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala. They appreciate our artistry and daredevil acts, and perhaps sympathise with us because we are facing stiff competition from films, television, and web-based shows. We have been seeing footfall of up to 300 in the 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. shows since we came to Tiruchi; the 7 p.m. show is usually packed with over 500 visitors. Some of them come from neighbouring towns and villages just to watch us,” V. Sethumohanan, Jumbo Circus manager, told The Hindu.

The Jumbo Circus was founded by impresario and former trapeze artiste M.V. Shankaran in 1977, who named it after the then newly-introduced Jumbo Jet aeroplane. According to the official website, its first show was held in Dhanapur in Bihar on October 2, 1977.

The ban on acts featuring wild animals such as lions and tigers, and a general economic slowdown, has seen the number of circus companies in India reduced to a little over 20. However, Jumbo Circus, now managed by founder’s sons Ajay and Ashok Shankar, has managed to stay profitable by adapting to the changing audience tastes and new regulations.

“We gifted all our exotic animals to the Vandalur Zoo in Chennai and have added a section on robotic and life-size animatronic puppets. We have a team of artistes from African countries and a selection of acts to thrill our visitors,” said Mr. Sethumohanan.

Novelty acts include stilt walkers, stunt cyclists, and gymnasts who perform with fire. Jumbo Circus last visited Tiruchi in 2019. “We need at least four acres of land to set ourselves up; it takes 200 workers about a week to put up the various sections of the circus galleries,” said Mr. Sethumohanan.

The circus company is planning to stay in the city for the next month and is open to arranging group bookings for schools, colleges, and corporate clients.