World Circus Day is celebrated on the third Saturday of every April. Something about the festive atmosphere, the big tent, gut-gripping stunts, funny jokers and much more draws young and old.
Many circuses have performed around the world. These days, Indian circus do not operate anymore with animals and child performances. However, the show still goes on in some cities and villages across the country. Rambo Circus, Jumbo Circus, Rayman Circus, Bombay Circus are some of the most famous circuses in India. Inside that grand tent, there still exists a heady mix of magic, tunes, dance, jugglery, acting and showmanship.
In recent years, the circus magic has faded a bit, a prey of animal rights group protests, low attendance and higher functioning costs. World Circus Day is a chance to raise public awareness and share the wonders of this magical world.
A Colombian figurative artist Fernando Botero once said, “The circus allows one to be logical and unreal at the same time. In the circus, all is possible, there can be a man with two heads or a character with a green face.” The same can be applied to Bollywood films as well. Because films and circuses share the same purpose: to entertain the audience.
On the occasion of World Circus Day, here are films and television series to watch out for:
Mera Naam Joker (1970): This Raj Kapoor classic is a sad tale of a clown. No film has treated a clown as wonderfully since and is considered as one of Raj Kapoor’s finest works today. After the release, the film was rejected by audiences and critics alike, putting Raj Kapoor into a financial crisis. Afterwards, it became a cult classic and is considered a milestone in Indian cinema. The movie has nine songs!
The movie which was in production for six years was also a huge hit in the Soviet Union.
Appu Raja (1989): This unlikely hit saw the ever-experimental Kamal Haasan in a double role. Singeetham Srinivasa Rao of Pushpak fame directed the revenge drama. The film tells the story of twins, Raju and Appu, who were separated during childhood.
Appu being a dwarf, worked in a circus. Appu comes to know that his father was a policeman killed by four criminals. The film shows how Appu succeeds in avenging the death of his father and how Raja proves his innocence. The film’s best song ‘Aya Hai Raja’ is still a major chartbuster. The film was a box office success.
Dekh Indian Circus (2011): The Nawazuddin Siddiqui-Tannishtha Chatterjee starring Dekh Indian Circus is directed by Mangesh Hadawale. The film is an entertaining symbol for rural India’s fight to access the supposed economic wonder of that East Asian nation. The film has won many international awards including the best actor and actress awards at the 12th annual New York Indian Film Festival.
Murder in Circus (1971): Murder in Circus was directed by A Salam. The film is based at a circus where a series of cryptic murders take place. Jaymala plays the trapeze artist. The movie is all about how she solves the crime along with Gopal a character played by Sujit Kumar. This film was inspired by the Anglo-German thriller Circus of Fear 1966.
Chandralekha (1948): Considered as the most expensive film made in India at the time, Chandralekha was a historical adventure film directed by SS Vasan, who helmed its Tamil version also named Chandralekha in 1948. It had T R Rajakumari, MK Radha and Ranjan in the lead role. Originally made in Tamil, the film didn’t make well but the Hindi version released in December of that year, became a box-office success.
Circus Queen (1959): This movie was one of the major hits of that time, which starred Fearless Nadia along with the action star John Cawas. Circus Queen was released in 1959 and directed by Noshir Engineer. The movie is based in a circus called The Great Punjab Circus. The film sees a five-year-old child entering the lion’s cage and Usha Devi, the artist of the circus famous internationally as Circus Queen, rescues the child. Later, it is found that the lost child is the son of a wealthy father and is also a part of a kidnapping plot. Nadia’s clarion call of ‘Heyy’ is still recognised by generations of movie buffs.
Dhoom 3 (2013): Director of Dhoom 3 Vijay Krishna Acharya showcased a contemporary circus in the third instalment of Dhoom series. The film opens in 1990 at a circus called The Great Indian Circus in Chicago, USA. The circus is run by Iqbal Khan (Jackie Shroff) who is fighting hard to keep it afloat due to financial burden. The circus is closed, and Iqbal commits suicide. Years later, his son Sahir (Aamir Khan) restarts the circus. The film also has a song Malang featuring Aamir Khan and Katrina Kaif. The song is considered as the most expensive songs ever shot in Bollywood.
Circus (1989): Talking about the small screen, Circus is an unforgettable television series which was broadcasted in 1989 on Doordarshan. Shah Rukh made his TV debut with Fauji, and later he became a household name with this series in 1989. Aziz Mirza and Kundan Shah directed it. Shah Rukh played the role of a young man struggling to manage a circus that was his father’s. The series also starred Renuka Shahane, Makarand Deshpande, Ashutosh Gowarikar, Sameer Khakhar and others.
Rejoice because Circus has made a comeback on Doordarshan.
