‘I will not ask my children to become clowns,people no longer interested’

Charan Singh is a clown.

He is getting ready for the next show of Asiad Circus,which has been in the city for more than a week. But like always,Charan will perform to empty chairs and scattered applause.

“From dress circle to upper stalls,seats largely remain vacant,” the manager says.

Randhir Singh,who mans the ticket counter,adds: “Most of the tickets priced at Rs 100 go unsold. Around 40 per cent tickets are sold on weekdays. Business picks up only marginally on weekends.”

With dying interest in circus,the talent of these entertainers is also dying.

“Following the footsteps of our elders,we turned performers. But I do not want my children to follow me. There is no future,” Amit Kumar,a third-generation trapeze artiste,says. The art,he adds,has reached a dead-end.

Despite having three elephants,several horses and over 150 mouths to feed,circus owner Raju Pehelwan says he will not shut the shop.

“I cannot abandon them. It’s my moral responsibility to look after them as long as I can,” Raju says. “Money was good when I started three decades ago,but over the years it has been declining.”

Like others,Raju has also not let his children join the profession. “Where is the money? The government levies so many taxes that we are unable to even make the ends meet,” he says.

Every day,the circus “gulps down around Rs 50,000,which includes fodder for animals and other expenses”.

Absence of animals like lions,tigers and bears has also spoiled business,Raju adds. “The government took away these animals,but we have roped in performers from Africa and Armania to draw audience.”

And the show must go on.