A ringside view of life

TRIPUNITHURA: Life has been a nomadic trip for M Chandran and his wife Savithri, something confined to the circus ring to be precise. Amidst the effort to erect his fire and waterproof circus tent at the Puthiyakavu Temple Ground, Chandran, owner of the company,  shared his hopes and worries.“It is nothing but my urge to see people with diverse culture and lifestyle that attracted me towards this unique profession. I consider it a noble mission to give food and shelter to more than 200 families,” says Chandran, a native of Kodiyeri in Thalassery.  It was in 1970 that Kanaran of Metro Circus approached Chandran offering Manager post in his circus troupe which he accepted.  “That was the beginning of my eventful life and I visited almost all states in India mingling with the people from different cultural backgrounds.” Meanwhile Chandran changed the tents many times from Metro Circus to Gemini to Bharath to Raajkamal to National and so on.In 2000 Chandran started the Royal Circus Company with 50 artists and 30 workers. Later the company was renamed Grand Circus. Now the company has around 100 artists and the same number of workers. “A circus tent is actually an ideal cross section of our nation,” he says.  Meanwhile, Chandran selected a life partner from the tent itself and that is Savithri.   One can see a small tent amidst other tents meant for the clowns and other circus artists.  And that will be the tent of Chandran. “I usually arranges special rooms in nearby hotels for the managers and other staff of my company.  But I spent my days inside the tent along with the artists,” he says.   Government of India is yet to give a status of sports or art for the circus artists. Here the government is keen on taking action against circus companies in the name of animal torture and child labour,” he says. But Chandran says that they have been caring the animals with love and affection. “All the members inside the circus tent are treated with utmost care,” he says.  Grand Circus began its show at Kochi from August 26 at Puthiyakavu Temple Ground.