Circus pioneer Gemini Shankaran passes away at 99

Gemini Sankaran, the founder of Gemini Circus and a pioneer of Indian circus died at the age of 99 on Monday, April 24, 2023.

Moorkoth Vengakandi Shankaran (M.V. Sankaran also known as Gemini Shankaran, a pioneer of Modern Indian Circus passed away at a private hospital in Kannur on Sunday night.

He was 99-years-old and was suffering from age related issues.

Born on June 13, 1924 at Kolassery near Thalassery to Kavinissery Raman Nair and Murkoth Kalyani Amma, Shankaran was prominent among those who brought the Indian circus to the world’s attention. He owned circus companies including Gemini, Jumbo and Great Royal Circus.

After completing his 7th standard education, he studied circus for 3 years under Thalassery Keeleri Kunhikkannan. Initially, instead of pursuing circus, he tried his luck in doing business for two year. However, when he made losses, Mr. Shankar decided to join army, where he worked in the wireless section of the the army. He retired after the second World War.

By the time, he returned back to Thalassery, his master was no more and he took further training in Circus from M.K Raman.

Two years later, he joined as an artist in Boss Lion Circus in Kolkata. He joined as a trapeze player. Later he joined National Circus. Mr. Shankaran was an expert in horizontal bar and flying trapeze. He also worked in Rayman Circus for over a period of five years.

But his ambition did not stop as an artist and he decided to start his own Circus company. In 1951, he bought Vijaya Circus Company at ₹6,000 in Maharshtra and named it Gemini, which was his birth sign.