Behind the scenes of India’s 73-year-old travelling Gemini circus

“Do you know the Kamal film Apoorva Sagodharargal? He shot it at our theatre. With us. It was magical,” says Lakshmanan Chakyiath, the 77-year-old production manager of Gemini Circus. Referencing this 1989 tragic Tamil classic set in the contrastingly exuberant world of a circus, Lakshmanan launches into a long conversation about the history of one of India’s oldest modern circuses which began in Billimoria, Gujarat in 1951. But this story of the likes of former Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Atal Bihari Vajpayee having watched the performances is one that has been oft-repeated.

The more fascinating tale is that of its people. Composed of many different physical attributes, the circus folks of Gemini have worked and trained with this company for years, beginning usually as little clowns and working their way up the ladder, sometimes quite literally, to perform stunts and become heroes of wide-eyed young children who watch the two-hour long shows in utter rapture.

We meet artists who hang from the pinnacle of the circus tents, form human pyramids and pedal cycles with their hands, to tell you their story.

Asmani Macca and Yaseen Harum

The popular phrase ‘joint at the hip’ needs to be modified to fit Asmani (30) and Yaseen (25), two Swahili-speaking Tanzanians who have been part of the Gemini circus for a year now. These two acrobats who stun audiences with audacious stunts are joint at the head instead.

“I joined the circus when I was seven,” says Asmani who is from Kilimanjaro. “I was 10,” chimes in Yaseen from Zanzibar. Both these young acrobats would do flips and gymnastics to elicit claps from friends and neighbours. When the call to join a touring circus company arrived, the two jumped at the opportunity as it meant helping the family out financially.

“Tanzania did not have these big circuses. We would instead go as a group, performing fire dances, bamboo dances and other conventional acts at hotels to entertain tourists who’d arrive from different parts of the world. We learnt to do acrobatics by experimenting around each other. It was fun in the beginning. Now, it is a job like any other,” says Yaseen who is more comfortable speaking in English than Asmani is.

As part of its six member crew that continues to do fire dances and pyramids at the circus, Asmani says that it is the joy they see on people’s faces that keeps them going. They have travelled to England, Scotland and India for their performances and enjoy being in London and Liverpool the most because they find pockets of home in the land of their colonisers. “Many come up to us and want to take selfies. They want to touch our hair. It is amusing,” says Yaseen.

Asmani wants to go home and begin a hardware store. Yaseen is into fashion and would like to set up a business selling “beautiful shoes to the ladies”. Until then, the selfies will have to do.

Arthi Matho

Arthi Matho, a 40-year-old cycle stunt artiste from West Bengal is one of the senior-most woman performers in Gemini circus and is well-respected for her politeness.

“When I joined the circus, I was five. I was reluctant to leave my home and parents. But circumstances were dire at home and I had no choice. When I saw my father leave, I was actually sad. But five minutes later, I encountered lions and monkeys at the circus. I completely forgot everything else. The circus has been my life since,” she says.

Arthi does not intend to make these statements seem grand. She is just as sincere about them as she is about the cycle she performs tricks on. When she is on stage, she says that she feels a firecracker burst inside her. The energy of the stage is something she truly cherishes.

Arthi has travelled across India for her performances but is in love with Kerala as she likes the greenery. It is also very walkable and the crowds are sweet, she says.

She says that her son who has just finished his Class X exams is in Chennai for his break and to watch his mother perform. “Life has been on the road so he must travel to me. It is difficult but I know no other life,” she says.

Bikram Thapa and Sania Thapa

This loving couple that met at the circus, is up at 6am each day to ensure that the dangerous stunts they do land well. “I am concerned for both our safety so practice is key,” says Bikram (40) from Assam’s Mojai region.

This flying trapeze artiste spends much of his time high up by the ‘big top’ of the cylindrical tent jumping from bars suspended at the top and being caught mid-air. No single performance scares him though as he has been training since he was 10 years old. “When I was young, the circus was a whole world of possibilities. The lights, music, the public and animals. What more could a child want? I was in wonderland,” he says. “It is also where I met my wife,” he adds.

A chatty Sania, a ring trapeze artiste, goes over their routine. After waking up, the two head straight to the performance ring and get stretches out of the way. Right after, they practise new tricks for an hour. “We begin rehearsing the act for the evening and are very conscious about getting it right. Then, there is the standard Indian breakfast with some focus on protein — eggs, fish and chicken. Circus artistes need to look good and do great tricks. It is an art,” she says.

Sania also joined the circus when she was young. They met during a performance in West Bengal and the rest, she says, is history. When asked if they get bored of doing the same routine over and over again, Sania says that it is akin to going to office and sitting at a desk to do a task. Except here, she contorts her body to fit through hoops suspended in the air.

“People used to come in hordes when the animals were around but now, the focus has shifted to artistry and innovation. That is why we want more people to come and watch us. It is a performance like any other song or dance concert,” Bikram says.

The Gemini Circus performs two shows everyday between Monday and Friday at 4.30pm and 7.30pm. Three shows are performed every weekend and on public holidays at 1.30pm, 4.30pm and 7.30pm. Tickets are priced at ₹500 each and can be purchased on BookMyShow or at YMCA ground in Perungudi, OMR.