SHAPE-SHIFTING CIRCUS
THE WEEK India|October 01, 2023
To recover from the post-pandemic blues, some Indian circuses are reinventing themselves
SACHIN JOSE
SHAPE-SHIFTING CIRCUS

When bubble artiste Anastasia Bykova fled Luhansk in Ukraine's war-torn Donbas region, the only thing that kept her going was her hope for survival. After struggling to make ends meet by hosting private events, she eventually joined the Pune-based Rambo Circus, which, too, has been fighting its own battle for survival. Bykova (name changed on request) moved to Goa as a refugee in 2017 along with her husband and three children, the youngest of whom is autistic. Luhansk was occupied by pro-Russian rebels even before Russian President Vladimir Putin's 'special military operation' that started in 2022.

Rambo Circus, which went online during the lockdown, is leading the reinvention of the industry by trading circus rings for premium shows in AC halls, complemented by sound and light effects that appeal to Gen Z. Embracing her new life as Rambo's Princess Elsa who woos kids to the stage as they try to catch bubbles of different sizes and shapes, Bykova says, "It is a different vibe to be on a big stage with professionals. The stage allows more interaction with the audience compared with the ring."

The title of its pandemic-era virtual show (Life is a Circus) reflects the life of Rambo Circus owner Sujit Dilip, 48. Like a juggler, he keeps switching between shows in tents and theatres to keep the business going post-Covid. And like a rolla-bolla artiste balances a wobbling board atop a cylinder, he balances between keeping the art relevant in the digital era and retaining its nostalgic sheen. "Being in this business is like a death-defying trapeze act. We are struggling to keep the dying art alive," he explains.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM THE WEEK INDIAView all
William Dalrymple goes further back
THE WEEK India

William Dalrymple goes further back

Indian readers have long known William Dalrymple as the chronicler nonpareil of India in the early years of the British raj. His latest book, The Golden Road, is a striking departure, since it takes him to a period from about the third century BC to the 12th-13th centuries CE.

time-read
3 mins  |
November 17, 2024
The bleat from the street
THE WEEK India

The bleat from the street

What with all the apps delivering straight to one’s doorstep, the supermarkets, the food halls and even the occasional (super-expensive) pop-up thela (cart) offering the woke from field-to-fork option, the good old veggie-market/mandi has fallen off my regular beat.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 17, 2024
Courage and conviction
THE WEEK India

Courage and conviction

Justice A.M. Ahmadi's biography by his granddaughter brings out behind-the-scenes tension in the Supreme Court as it dealt with the Babri Masjid demolition case

time-read
2 mins  |
November 17, 2024
EPIC ENTERPRISE
THE WEEK India

EPIC ENTERPRISE

Gowri Ramnarayan's translation of Ponniyin Selvan brings a fresh perspective to her grandfather's magnum opus

time-read
4 mins  |
November 17, 2024
Upgrade your jeans
THE WEEK India

Upgrade your jeans

If you don’t live in the top four-five northern states of India, winter means little else than a pair of jeans. I live in Mumbai, where only mad people wear jeans throughout the year. High temperatures and extreme levels of humidity ensure we go to work in mulmul salwars, cotton pants, or, if you are lucky like me, wear shorts every day.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 17, 2024
Garden by the sea
THE WEEK India

Garden by the sea

When Kozhikode beach became a fertile ground for ideas with Manorama Hortus

time-read
4 mins  |
November 17, 2024
RECRUITERS SPEAK
THE WEEK India

RECRUITERS SPEAK

Industry requirements and selection criteria of management graduates

time-read
3 mins  |
November 17, 2024
MORAL COMPASS
THE WEEK India

MORAL COMPASS

The need to infuse ethics into India's MBA landscape

time-read
5 mins  |
November 17, 2024
B-SCHOOLS SHOULD UNDERSTAND THAT INDIAN ECONOMY IS GOING TO WITNESS A TREMENDOUS GROWTH
THE WEEK India

B-SCHOOLS SHOULD UNDERSTAND THAT INDIAN ECONOMY IS GOING TO WITNESS A TREMENDOUS GROWTH

INTERVIEW - Prof DEBASHIS CHATTERJEE, director, Indian Institute of Management, Kozhikode

time-read
3 mins  |
November 17, 2024
COURSE CORRECTION
THE WEEK India

COURSE CORRECTION

India's best b-schools are navigating tumultuous times. Hurdles include lower salaries offered to their graduates and students misusing AI

time-read
8 mins  |
November 17, 2024