Jeena yaha marna yaha iske siva jaana kahaa...
the song from Raj Kapoor’s movie ‘Mera Naam Joker’, beautifully sums up the life of an artiste in a circus.
Gone are the days when families would fill their bags with snacks, and head to circus tents put up in the city.
After entertaining generations of Indians for more than a century, the circus industry is now struggling to find a place in Bangalore to enthral audiences.
Owing to various factors, the industry is losing its charm and the community is rapidly disappearing from the entertainment stream.
The state of the circus industry has become miserable with the state government not granting organisers the permission to put up their tents and shows at Palace Grounds.
Circus Fans and Welfare Associations approached the state government to let them organise circus events at Palace Grounds which has been the venue for several decades.
Terming circus as a commercial event, permission to organise the same was denied by the state government .
Lamenting that permissions were given by the authorities to conduct wedding ceremonies at Palace Grounds, Premnath, a Circus Promoter said, “For the past 50 years, various circus companies have organised their shows every year in Bangalore at the Palace Grounds.
Circus shows are indoor shows performed inside a tent.
The people will be less in number when compared to a wedding function.
Unlike weddings, traffic will not be affected by our circus shows.
We demand the state government to allot a centralised designated place where circus can be conducted without any issue,” Premnath said.
Expressing his discontent over the whole situation Premnath further added, “The government of India considers circus as a performing art and a healthy gymnastics recreational programme.
It has issued circulars to civil authorities to help circus in maximum possible ways, which is not happening.
” Ivan Nigli, president of Circus Fans and Welfare Association, said that the Supreme Court had once directed King of Mysore Srikantadatta Wadiyar to give 30 acres for performing arts like circus.
“The state government shall not refuse permission to let out the premise,” said Ivan Nigli.
Making it clear that they do not need any financial aid from the government to run their show, circus promoters said, “All that we demand from the government is a place where we can perform throughout the year.
Or else families which totally depend on this industry will be on streets.
”