Journalism of Courage
Pitched on the banks of the Mutha river in Deccan,the colourful tent of the Rambo Circus easily catches one’s attention. With income generated by Bollywood films like Luck by Chance and Krrish,the Rambo Circus could give its art the best gift possible a durable and sturdy tent. But,not all players in the trade have got similar opportunities. A circus demands a good investment for playing in a city. Tent pitching starts almost a week before the shows begin,which increases the land rental. This,coupled with the ancillary needs the barriers,ticket booths,iron gates and gallery adds to the high expenses.
But the Rambo Circus,which will be showing in the city till the end of this month,has found solutions. As one walks around the circus premises,several changes are noticeable. A deflated tent inside is being folded by workers. Sujit Dilip,owner,Rambo Circus,overlooks the work. We have developed this tent at 30 times lesser cost, he says. Plus,it’s higher than normal tents; it has iron ropes instead of the usual nylon ones,which will ensure that in case of fire,damage reduces. The iron ropes are held to the ground by metal frames. While the tent is now being tested,its success will ensure that the industry gets a more durable and cheaper replacement for the normal tents.
The facade of the circus too looks different. The gate,often made of metal,is now made of fibre. The barriers are made of inflatable material. Everything can be folded into a box,” says Dilip as he points to the vinyl propylene fabric that is being used for the entry stop. He hopes that these changes will be replicated in other circuses as well. Anything to save the trade, he smiles.
