John J Mampilly's Blind Fold

Man of letters, Shri Sippy Pallippuram inaugurating the blind fold of Magician John J Mampilly's blind fold at Njarakkal, seeking an immediate action on Mullaperiyar issue.

Mesmerizing magic for expat tourists

God’s Own Country serves the flavors of magic

G. Girish Kumar, December 20, 2011

The high tourist season in Kerala is once again started from September and it lasts till April, the peak of summer. According to the lonely planet, an international-multi language publication for tourists’ advices the Academy of magical sciences as the eighth one in the listed thirty tour activities in Thiruvananthapuram.

“Ever wanted to learn how on earth they do that Indian rope trick? This is your chance. This academy works to preserve traditional Indian magic, give recognition to street magicians and train students in the art of illusion. It holds regular shows and has a store selling magic kits.” Lonely Planet has made the review for Academy of Magical Sciences. Lonely Planet authors visit the places they write about and do not entertain freebies for positive coverage as a practice.

Country's first-ever magic tourism project, launched in January 2007, is to intend to provide foreign tourists a close encounter with magic and magicians - the closest one they ever can have in their life. The magic tourism project, presented by the Magic Academy along with the government tourism authorities and other tour facilitators, capable to cater the guests of the state.

Though magic has widely spread all over the world, Indian magic and magicians has the unique position with traditional tricks. Considering this fact, Academy has taken up strive to reach every tourist with the fascinating world of magic. It has enriched with the thrive performances in stage and table hop types, magic awareness sessions, fast familiarizing opportunities, magic store for items buying purposes, mirror museum visits and much more.

J P Banerjee positioned second in Sammohanam

Ahmadabad: A reputed performer, magician J P Banerjee from West Bengal won the second prize in senior citizen’s magic competition held here in Karnavati club in November. The competition was organized as part of the variety magical hallmark programmes of Sammohanam, the national magic convention. Banerjee is a familiar figure in most of the national and regional magicians’ conventions in India and he has been careering magic from a period of more than thirty years. World’s renowned magician K. Lal has distributed the prize for winners in presence of International Merlin Award winner Magician Gopinath Muthukad.

Obituary - Magician Sudhir Prakash

Magician Sudhir Prakash (43), an active magician in national level magic conventions held in Kerala, passed away. He has voluntarily contributed within his possible extend for the welfare of Asia’s first Magic Academy and magicians. A passed out student of Magic Academy is a real loss for magicians and the art of magic. Vismayam Magical News expresses the heartfelt condolence on his sad demise.

Mullaperiyar: Magicians in the frontline with solidarity

Vandipperiyar: People of different districts, including the well known cine artist Suresh Krishna, were being washed away in a torrent ended in a fraction of moment. A magical scene in Magician Gopinath Muthukad astonished the mass in Vandipperiyar. The magic titled ‘Jala’pravaaham which later literarily turned to a ‘Jana’pravaaham was the key magic performance on this subject to raise the solidarity and concerns, where he has made them re-appear as a hope to the people by unity and appropriate action.

Magicians’ might to wipe out societal woes was proved once more, this time, over Mullaperiyar that is already a national issue that has put over thirty lakhs of people under the fear of an approaching disaster. The magic was to fuse the emotions and anxieties of people in Idukki and other three districts and intended to convey the message that a dam failure will result in a heavy havoc.

Representing the four districts, platforms at four levels designed and more than twenty people including the cine artist Suresh Krishna represented the people. The performance is aimed to convey that ‘preventing a calamity is better than cure’.

Mullaperiyar dam, which is located in Kerala but is controlled and used by Tamil Nadu, has long been a source of much acrimony. The dam controversy has been extended and affected to the harmony of two key states where the mutual bondage and support is under difficulty. Though the government and people of Kerala reassure to continue with supply of water for its neighboring state, Tamil Nadu, they express their concerns on the lives and wealth of central Kerala.

According to experts and analysts, repeated tremors in the region and increase in water level of the Mullaperiyar dam may cause to have the disaster which certainly can affect Idukki, Ernakulam, Kottayam and Alappuzha districts.

Muthukad and many other magicians like Mayan Vaidyar Shah, Haris Taha, Shaju Kadakkal and John J Mampilly were few in the forefront to educate the common people and to express the solidarity with the people under the fright of dam disaster.

******

Kochi: By staging a magic show at the High Court Junction, Ernakulam the magic society expressed solidarity on the Mullaperiyar issue. Through the show, Magician Mayan Vaidyar Shah showed what would happen once Mullaperiyar Dam brakes. He also performed a magic show that provided the solution to the problem. “It is necessary that a solution be found by the governments for the people who are extremely worried about the impending disaster from the Mullaperiyar Dam,” he said.

******

Thiruvananthapuram: Young promising magician Haris Taha has appeared to be on thorns from the annoyance of dam disaster threats. He has staged the programme titled ‘Rakshajaalam’ at the secretariat gate by laying down on sharpen nails.

Magician Shaju Kadakkal, the well established magician teacher also carries the message from the schools community and made his position in space symbolizing people in Kerala will have to be in space for their survival, if anything goes wrong with the dam.

******

Vypin: Magician John J Mampilly, the secretary of Red Cross Society Vypin Unit has done the blind fold from Njarakkal to Gosree Junction seeking an immediate action on Mullaperiyar issue. The blind fold was inaugurated by the well known man of letters, Sippy Pallippuram.