Indian circus pioneer ‘Gemini’ Sankaran passed away late on Sunday, April 23. He was 99.
Moorkkoth Vengakkandi Sankaran aka Gemini Sankaran, the doyen of modern Indian circus who founded some of the country’s famous circuses like Gemini and Jumbo, died following age-related ailments at a private hospital in Kannur.
Sankaran was born on June 13, 1924 near Thalassery, the cradle of Indian circus.
Sankaran’s schooling was limited to 7th standard, after which he studied Kalaripayattu and circus from Keeleri Kunhikannan before starting a small time grocery store. The grocery business failed and Sankaran joined the Indian Army where he worked until the end of World War II. After leaving the military, he joined the Boss Lion Circus as a trapeze artist. In 1951, he purchased Vijaya Circus for a sum of INR 6000 and renamed it as Gemini Circus. He later purchased Jumbo Circus in 1977.
In 1964, Gemini Circus became the first Indian circus to attend the International Circus Festival in the USSR. Gemini Circus was the shooting location for Raj Kapoor’s ‘Mera Naam Joker’, besides other films.
Sankaran, as one of the pioneers of the India circus industry, wrote his autobiography, Malakkam Mariyunna Jeevitham, which was published in 2012. His life is also recorded in another biography, Gemini Shankaran and the Legacy of Indian Circus.
The Government of India honoured him with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said Sankaran was instrumental in making the Indian circus famous globally and had played a key role in the development of Indian circus
