Moonlight Circus fails to attract spectators. Picture by Biju Boro

Aug. 10: Half a century ago, a fatigued showman had sung The show must go on.

Today, the immortal line lipped by Raj Kapoor in Mera Naam Joker fails to lift the spirits of Seikh Muzibur Rahman, manager of Moonlight Circus, which opened in the city last week.

With business on the decline, the manager is finding it difficult to make ends meet. Moreover, the controversy that surrounded Kohinoor Circus of Calcutta last year has had an adverse effect on business.

Acting on complaints by wildlife groups that animals were being mistreated at the circus, the district administration had taken away seven lions and a Himalayan black beer and handed them over to the Assam State Zoo. The administration also banned future shows.

Rahman rued that people nowadays have the tendency to look down on those associated with the circus trade. “We came to Guwahati with very high hopes, but they were dashed in no time. Even before we started, we were denied permission to host the show at the Chandmari field though a fair was held there soon after,” he alleged.

H.K. Bhattacharjee, the then principal in-charge of Assam Engineering Institute which owns the field, said the circus was not allowed to use the field because it was required for sporting events. L.K. Saikia, present principal, said, “We want to maintain a healthy academic environment in the institute and, henceforth, will not release the field to any circus or mela.”

A lot has changed since Moonlight first performed here 12 years ago. “Circus is not only about animals and profit. A lot of sweat and hard work goes into putting up a show. Mera Naam Joker did a lot for the trade, but this is a different age we live in,” Rahman said.

He appealed to the people to be more understanding towards the profession.

Rahman’s worries about the future are not unfounded. Moonlight and Rhino Circus, belonging to the same group from North Lakhimpur and running simultaneously at Fatasil Ambari and Gopal Ram Boro field respectively, are both doing bad business.

“We are running below 15 per cent of our total capacity. At this rate, how can we hope to keep the show going? There is something wrong somewhere,” Rahman said. Moonlight Circus alone employs 120 performers and 40 labourers. It also has six elephants, five horses, eight dogs and a number of birds. To prove that it is committed to society, the circus recently donated Rs 40,000 to the chief minister’s relief fund.

Moonlight Circus, which is associated with the Indian Circus Federation, plans to recruit three boys and girls between 10 and 14 years soon to add new acts. “With animals becoming a liability, we will have to concentrate more on artistes. But then given the situation, how do we keep the show going,” he wondered.