SHAPE-SHIFTING CIRCUS

To recover from the post-pandemic blues, some Indian circuses are reinventing themselves

- SACHIN JOSE

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.