Thampu

The arrival of a travelling circus sends ripples through the inhabitants of a remote Keralan village. Aravindan Govindan’s poetic and allegorical film The Circus Tent explores the often-marginalised lives and hopes of both the villagers and the circus troupe. In semi-documentary style, Aravindan worked closely with real circus people and artistes, travelling with them to the village of Thirunavaya on the banks of India’s Bharathappuzha river - and created one of Indian cinema’s most lyrical masterpieces. (Second Run)