The walls of the dingy corner at Moore Market that houses the Great Bombay Circus is adorned with pictures of celebrities visiting the circus. Dominating the lineup are pictures of film stars from M.G. Ramachandran to Surya. No wonder, since MGR and Surya have donned the role of a circus performer in their film career.

“Ezham Arivu was shot in our circus at Coimbatore,” says Mr Sanjeev Balagopal, partner of Great Bombay Circus, beaming with pride.

During the shooting of Ezham Arivu, Surya had said he had performed some stunts himself for originality.

Krissh, a blockbuster Hindi movie, was also shot in the circus. “Krissh-2, the sequel, will also be shot here,” Mr Balagopal declares.

Film buffs can hardly forget the legendary pair of MGR and Saroja Devi swaying on a trapeze in Parakkum Paavai (Flying woman), released in 1966.

From MGR in Parakkum Paavai to Kamal Haasan in Aboorva Sahodarargal and Surya in Ezham Arivu, circus performers on screen have awed you, made you laugh and sometimes cry.

“Films have certainly helped generate greater interest about circus among the audiences,” says Mr Balagopal.

He says circus draws more visitors whenever circus-oriented films are released.z But Mr S. Saravanan, a blogger and film buff, says some films in Malayalam have done more justice to circus. more justice to circus If people can lap up Surya offering lift to Shruthi Haasan on a circus ele phant on a busy road, they sure can have more.

-dc chn