History · Art and Culture
Modern Indian circus began in 1880 with Vishnupant Chatre's Great Indian Circus, was institutionalised through Keeleri Kunhikannan's school at Chirakkara (Kerala) — earning Kerala the title 'Cradle of Indian Circus' — and has declined sharply since the late 1990s due to legal, social, and competitive pressures.
India has a long tradition of street performers and itinerant artists. However, the circus in the modern sense is a relatively new industry. According to Philip Astley (English circus master), the first Indian circus was born around 1880.
| Circus | Founded | Key Facts |
|---|---|---|
| Three Ring Circus | 1930s | Founded by K. Damodaran as a two-pole circus; grew into the first and only six-pole three-ring circus of Asia |
| Great Royal Circus | 1909 | Started as Madhushkar's Circus; taken over by N.R. Walawalker and renamed; toured Africa, Middle East, South-East Asia |
| Great Bombay Circus | 1920 | Started by Baburao Kadam as Grand Bombay Circus; in 1947, K. M. Kunhikannan (nephew of Keeleri Kunhikannan) merged his company and renamed it; troupe of 300 performers and 60 animals |
| Gemini Circus | 1951 | Started at Bilimora, Gujarat by M. V. Shankaran (ex-army; known as Gemini Shankarettan); in , became the (shows at Moscow, Sochi, Yalta); backdrop of |
Scale of decline: ~300 Indian circuses in 1990 → only 30 in 2017
| Reason | Details |
|---|---|
| Hereditary secrecy | Circus companies kept trade secret; became hereditary; prevented good managers from entering |
| Supreme Court ban on child recruitment | 2011 — SC banned hiring children below age 14; acrobatics requires intensive childhood training, limiting the talent pool |
| Government ban on wild animals | 1997 — Government of India banned use of wild animals for entertainment; a major audience draw disappeared |
| Social perception | Circus seen as a dangerous profession; families unwilling to send children; no dynasty formation unlike in the West |
| Competition from e-entertainment | Younger generation's access to world-class gymnastics and digital entertainment reduced circus audiences |
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This chapter covers Introduction, The Great Indian Circus — Origin of Modern Indian Circus, Keeleri Kunhikannan — Father of Indian Circus, Major Indian Circus Companies, Circus: A Marginal Industry — Decline. It is organized as revision-ready notes followed by a linked practice quiz.
For Under the Big Top: The History and Status of the Indian Circus, focus on definitions, dates, places, institutions, distinguishing features, and factual comparisons in the chapter. Then use the quiz to check recall and identify gaps.
Use the Under the Big Top: The History and Status of the Indian Circus chapter headings to organize an answer framework. Connect causes, consequences, comparisons, examples, and evidence wherever the notes provide them instead of memorizing isolated facts.
| Jumbo Circus | 1977 | Started in Bihar; acquired by the Shankaran family; called 'The Pride of India'; largest Indian circus of modern times; included Russian acrobats and performers |