The Cirqus
- Open roles
- 0
- Founded
- 2014
- Employees
- 1-10
- Offices
- 2
About The Cirqus
The Cirqus is an Indian visual effects and animation studio founded in 2014 and headquartered in Hyderabad. Its work spans feature films, advertising, themed entertainment and interactive media, with a particular focus on photorealistic creatures, character animation and immersive attraction films.
The studio brings together concept development, character and environment design, storyboarding, look development and production. Its creature work combines modeling, organic rigging and animation with shading, texturing and integration into live-action footage. Visual effects capabilities also include green-screen compositing, set extensions, environmental augmentation and simulations of water, smoke, fire, cloth, hair, fur and destruction. Keyframe and procedural animation support projects across film, television, commercials and special venues.
Film and commercial work
The Cirqus has contributed to Indian cinema across regional industries. Its film credits include Lord Livingstone 7000 Kandi, Leela and Tiyaan, alongside character animation and visual effects for Baahubali 2: The Conclusion. These projects encompass character design, concept art and finished visual effects, reflecting the studio’s involvement at different stages of production.
Its advertising portfolio includes the Bisleri Camel campaign, as well as work for Livguard, ZOHO One, Bingo!, Ibaco, Sangeetha Mobiles and UAE Exchange. The commercial work combines animated characters, creature design and visual effects for television and digital advertising.
Attractions and interactive production
Beyond conventional screens, The Cirqus develops custom attraction media, including 360-degree immersive ride films and virtual reality venue experiences. Supported projects include T:Rex 360, Balloon 360: VRide and Fly Over Canada: Christmas Edition.
The studio also works in game art and original interactive intellectual property, providing models, rigging, character design and animation pipelines. Its co-development work includes the arcade racing game Bot Rods, created with Holy Cow Productions and Hobo Interactive. This range of projects connects the studio’s character-focused production capabilities with films, commercial campaigns, venue attractions and games.
More about The Cirqus
Founders and leadership
- The studio was established by creative director Dileep Varma with partners Varun Malhotra and Pramod Malhotra. The report also lists all three as directors of its operating company.
Recognition
- The Bisleri Camel advertising campaign won Best Creative on TV at the 2019 Star Re.Imagine Awards. CG Channel also highlighted it among its “10 Best VFX & Animation Breakdowns of 2018,” alongside the studio’s Wolven walk-cycle demo.
- The Bot Rods project received an Epic MegaGrant in 2021 and was showcased at Microsoft’s ID@Xbox event in Seattle. These recognitions concern the game project.
Production and education partnerships
- The studio collaborated closely with principal vendor Makuta VFX on its contribution to Baahubali 2: The Conclusion.
- Its partnership with IACG Multimedia College includes student mentoring and industry-aligned character animation workflows.
Notable credits
19 creditsOffices
Where The Cirqus is based
- 401 Metropole, Image Gardens Lane, Silicon Valley / Jaihind Enclave, Madhapur / Hitech City, Hyderabad, Telangana 500081, IndiaHyderabad, Telangana, India
Hyderabad Studio
HeadquartersPrimary operational studio and overall production headquarters. The saved city-level Hyderabad record represents these premises.
- 904, ITL Twin Tower, Plot No. B-09, Netaji Subash Place, Pitampura, New Delhi, Delhi 110034, IndiaNew Delhi, Delhi, India
New Delhi Registered Corporate Office
Registered corporate seat of Cirqus Arts Private Limited; distinct from the Hyderabad production headquarters.
Open roles
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