Shahrukh Khan Weds Rani Mukherjee

They would come out with their Monkeys, Snakes, Bears on the street. If a crowd gathered around them they would put up a show. The typical snake charmers played the twin piped woodwind instrument called 'Bin' or 'Pungi' and hypnotize the King Cobra or other deadly venomous snake with this music. The snake would be shaking its head in rhythm with the snake charmer's hand movements. Many times they would have a junior apprentice walk a tight rope, get stabbed, cough up blood from his mouth etc. At the end of the show they would circulate a collection bowl and people would throw in some spare change. Often times they had a special client who they performed for an agreed price. The uninvited kids like me and other people looking for a freebie show took advantage of this. We literally saw these shows for free, many times, as it was not obligatory to put money in the bowl circulating for collection. These are my early childhood memories of growing up in kolkata.

The child artist here performing for me with his monkeys is a class act. His act - a time tested classic involving two monkeys named after the two most popular film stars of the time. There is the celebrity wedding in this act. There is romance, tragedy and ultimately everything ends up on a happier note. He has a little two sided drum called 'Dugdugi 'he plays to keep rhythm with his singing. He sings some popular Hindi Film songs in the act and his stars, these monkeys dance, do acrobatics and act to his tune. Perhaps a major breadwinner for his family, this child artist performing on the street, is part of a fast vanishing breed of artists with their classic art form from the 'Street Theatre Scene' of Kolkata. Well, Cable TV and Internet cannibalized his patrons.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• kolkata
• calcutta
• india
• street
• performing
• child
• artist

[DaPhillosophizer]

@tonywhyte What's the difference between this and having a dog doing tricks on a leash. Im all for animal rights but more importantly I'm for human rights. I like how you advocate for the monkey's liberty but don't address the billions of people trapped by poverty and starvation. This kid actually seems like a good owner, he spends time with his animals and even trains them to dance. There are way more people from wealthier countries that neglect and isolate their pets. Stop hatin please.

[tonywhyte]

@DaPhillosophizer its completely different. Dogs have been pets of humans for thousands of years and they have evolved to be domesticated animals and Monkeys definitely have not, you would have to be an idiot to think that those monkeys look happy. Those Monkeys should be out in the wild but instead it has a lease wrapped tightly around its neck, is exploited and is obviously a subject of animal cruelty. Don't bother replying, your comments arent worth reading if you agree with this.

[Mukul108]

@tonywhyte - If you want to be a fuckin animal hero stop the Chemical, pharmaceutical, and medical research laboratories from using live animals to test everything from shampoo to surgical procedures. There are more than 115 million dogs, cats, rabbits, monkeys, and other mammals that suffer and die each year, but 80 percent of the lab animals used – mice, rats and birds – are not protected by the Animal Welfare Act, and therefore are not even counted.

[Mukul108]

@DaPhillosophizer - I fully agree with you DaPhilosophizer. I am sick and tired of sanctimonious attitudes of people like tonywhite. As far as I saw, this boy was very nice to his monkeys. He said to me that these monkeys had run away from a local Medical College Animal Test Lab and he caught them and trained them. I think he saved these monkeys from infinite amount of suffering. He feeds them and he feeds his family with his skills.

[tonywhyte]

Should put a leash on that wee fucker and all the others that think its o.k to treat animals this way. Its disgusting. Just because they live in poverty is no excuse for animal cruelty.

[Mukul108]

@tonywhyte - The boy is a hero and you are just plain fuckin stupid, not to mention suffering from an acute dose of information underload. You need to do a little research on how billions of people make their living elsewhere in the world. Someone ought to fuckin lock you up somewhere without food for a few days and then we will continue this debate on animal cruelty.

[praisingmoon1001]

feel sad about the lil boy and two monkeis...3 of them lost their real lives...two monkeis should be in da jungle..the boy shuold be in a school....

[DubZillaUK]

Yes I may be bad but the poor lad needs to eat surely?

[luvsmonks4902]

i feel so bad for children like this one living in the streets, no home, no clothes except what u see on their back, no food or medical care...love. They must find a way to be able to get food...at least he isnt killing others just for what ever they have in their pocket at the moment :(

[tonywhyte]

"talking shit on the little boy"? I was never on the little boy, think it was you that was on him. What are you talking about? I ain't an activist or a campaigner, infact I never comment on videos. I was just stating the simple fact that this is cruel. If you are you'r mate think that its not cruel then you are just diluded. Obviously you lot don't respect animals.

[DaPhillosophizer]

@tonywhyte Since you're such a youtube activist I'm sure you participate in bringing down major corporations destroying animal habitats and ecosystem with toxic chemicals. You're hostile, neo-liberal and self righteous statements reveal your ignorance. Talking shit on a little indian boy on youtube really solves a lot. That fact that you have time to waste like that shows that you aren't doing anything to change the world, you probably don't even leave your house other than to eat and work.

[MrVikaso]

nice boy .,.,.,.,.,but so sad