Magic couple amazed at Amogh's paintings

Colourful memories: Amogh B.J., student of the Magic Academy had a blessed occasion of presenting his paintings to magicians Luna Shimada and Losander during the day of Maya 2010. Amogh needed nearly 3 months for perfecting the portraits of the celebrated magic couple.

Magic in memory of a brave father

Brighter memories: Boy magician Samsun Sunny performs in memory of his father.

Thiruvananthapuram: On 17th of April, at the Wonder World auditorium of the Magic Academy, 12-year-old Samsun Sunny dedicated his debut show before the fond memories of his father, K.U. Sunny, who while serving Indian Army as a Naik died during a military move in the border.

Naik Sunny’s death occurred during ‘Operation Parakram’ by the Army in Rajasthan sector in 2002. Jetrude, Samson’s mother, was also present along with her elder son, Ulahannan Sunny, to see her younger son’s magic show.

Photo produced

The boy magician began the show by entering the stage gliding on a pair of roller skates and holding aloft an empty photo frame with ornamental borders. For a few moments, he kept the empty frame close to his heart. Suddenly a photo of his father in army uniform appeared on it. Samsun mounted the photo on the table and started producing a cascade of flowers and confetti from thin air.

Samsun’s entry in the world of wonders was at the Academy during the summer vacation in 2009. Now he is about to enter class 7 at Viswabharati school, Neyyattinkara.

Class for children

Earlier, child magician B.J. Amogh explained basics of magic for children. Both Samson Sunny and Amogh were offered certificates of honour by the junior faculty, R. Kannan and course co-ordinator, Jince Manimala respectively.

Magic earns him repute

Thiruvananthapuram: At the age of 11, Anzal A.H. was just one among the students of Manarul Huda Higher Secondary School.

It was then he joined for the summer vacation course in magical art and science at the Magic Academy Research Centre (MARC), Kazhakuttam. After two years, he is magician Anzal Kokkode whose fame spreads out of Panavur, his village.

A club named Kokkode Brothers has even come forward to sponsor the boy magician. “It is a great help. To my knowledge, my son is the first magician of this locality”, Anzal’s father, Kokkode Hassan says.

On 19th of December he performed for the first time at the Wonder World auditorium of the Academy. A group of 20 children, their parents, faculty members and staff of the Academy were held under his spell.

Child magician takes main role in short film

In the short film, 'How to use a gun', boy magician proves he knows how to act.

Little hero: Young magician, Ashwin Raj and Sajeev Pazhoor (left) being surrounded by media people outside Kalabhavan theatre.

Child magician Ashwin Raj has proved his brilliance as an actor. Keeping aside his magician’s coat, 13-year-old Ashwin acted as the chief character of ‘How to use a gun’ a short film directed by media personality, Sajeev Pzhoor. When the film was premiered at the Kalabhavan Theatre here, present were a good number of venerable personalities including poet and Magic Academy’s patron, O.N.V. Kurup; writers, Dr. George Onakoor and Perumbadavam Sreedharan among several other luminaries from the world of cinema.

For Ashwin, to express in front of a movie camera is not a new experience. He has already appeared in a number of television serials. As on the magic stage, for the short film too, his younger brother Axel Raj was there. In the film, Ashwin was the only son of parents living in a flat and Axel, a boy next door.

Mr. Pazhoor has deftly weaved the story of the evolution of a young dissenter in life to whom life is just loneliness in the limited spaces of a skyscraper. The loneliness and restrictions could only lead the child to his own world of computer games and guns. Fascinated by the predominant violence and bloodshed in the computer games, the boy tries his perfection in using a gun, first breaking his father’s liquor glasses, then paining the neighbourhood boy and finally killing the pussycat that was till a few days before, closer to his heart. The cinema freezes into the end still with blood drops of the cat dripping from the table followed by the boy smiling at his success in using the gun.

The film wins in telling a contemporary story and little magician Ashwin wins a name in a different sphere – the cinema. The film was produced by Ashwin's father, Rajan Mathew Elanjimattom on behalf of Elanjimattom Magical Entertainers.

I call it an experience: Ramu

"My confidence was moulded when I studied at the Magic Academy" Ramu Bhattathiri, winner of The Hindu Young World Quiz writes


The day is October the 26th of 2009.It was the day slated for the prestigious Trivandrum leg of The Hindu Young World Quiz 2009. The venue was Tagore Theatre. The first level to cross for me and my teammmate, Nicole Noyal Thomas, was the inquisitive and intriguing preliminary round to select the best six of the region. As 25 questions came to us in quick succession, we stood firm and gave the answers, based on what we knew the best. We were strong believers of the fact that, we should never give up until and unless we are forced to. The discussion of the answers to the prelims made us more and more confident and almost made us sure that we were among those 6 best teams of this region. A long wait and then it was time, as the Quiz Master, Mr.V.V.Ramanan, called upon the best six in ascending order of their points in the preliminary round of selections. Then he called, as the third best scorers in the prelims, from St.Thomas Central School, Nicole Noyal Thomas and Ramu N.Bhattathiri. We sat on the fourth table and were praying and praying to God.

The final began. In the first round, we disappointed. We had a big zero on our score sheets. Second round passed and we were off the mark, with 5 points. But the next round, the Audio-Visual round proved to be immensely crucial for us. After the round, we were leading and that too with 95 points. A single round gave us 90 points. The rounds continued. When the last round began, we were at 115 points. The team following us had 98 points. This was really the test for our grey cells. That turned out to be the buzzer round, which had seven questions. In that round all the teams had 35 points to win and 35 points to lose.+5 points for a correct answer and -5 for a wrong one. The first two questions were answered by the teams placed fourth and fifth. The third question was wrongly answered by the 2nd placed team. That meant negative 5 points for them. They then had 93 and we had 115 points. At that moment, we sensed that there was never any other chance for them to cross our points, even if they answered correctly all the remaining questions. So we thought, why should we go for the buzzer and dig holes for ourselves. We kept calm and cool, and rested in first position.

Winners, Nicole Noyel Thomas (right) and Ramu Bhattathiri with celebrity guest, M. Jayachandran.

The most important thing that I had on stage for the finals was confidence. My confidence was moulded when I studied at the Magic Academy. The classes at the Academy for building confidence helped me immensely and taught me how to remain calm and cool in times of apprehension and pressure. So, the victory that Nicole and I got has a huge part played well by the Academy for boosting up my confidence.

Teens with magic sheen

Albin Roshan and Mohammed Shanu made two-day Science Magic Camp attractive.


A.R. Mohammed Shanu (left) and Albin Roshan.

Albin Roshan and A.R. Mohammed Shanu proved their talents during the Science-Magic Camp on 19th and 20th of September in Thiruvananthapuram. A pass-out of the Course of Excellence in the Magic Academy Research Centre (MARC), 17-year-old Roshan received a certificate of appreciation from mother of Gopinath Muthukad, Devakiyamma.

For any growth in magic, Albin is thankful to two: one, Thomas P., the chief of MARC who looked after his welfare during his residential course there and two, everyone at his family. He recalls the support provided by his mother who readily accompanies him to any part of the State, but for magic shows. His younger sister has also started contributing her part of encouragement, by coming to the stage as an assistant. Albin has a considerable talent in performing magic with speech. He is on a continuous mission now: to polish his speech and streamline the entertainment during his shows.


On the second day Shanu proved that he is second to none in magic. 14-year-old Shanu was given the Academy’s certificate by the Director of the Academy, Chandrasenan Mithirmala. A third rank holder in the Summer Vacation Course, Shanu now does his higher course in magic.

Shanu, ever since his first session at the Magic Academy for a 'Preliminary Magic Course', was carried to the world of magic. His exceptional caliber in coin handling was noted by the masters at the Academy. They have only inspired the child to enter the classrooms for lower and higher courses in magic. Shanu is now proving that expectations about him in magic are not wrong.

Child magician goes online

Kick off: Member of the Federation of International Foodball Association, P.P. Lakshmanan (third, left) inaugurates child magician, Rayees Rasheed’s (with a turban) website at the Bharateeya Vidhya Bhawan, Taliparamba on 22nd of July. The website, www.magicianrayees.com gives information on the achievements of the 10-year-old magician on the playgrounds of magic. Chairman of the Bhawan, P.C. Vijayaraj and a number of dignitaries were present on the occasion. Rayees is eldor son of magician K. Abdul Rasheed (left).

‘Amir’ in magic

Thiruvananthapuram: A pass out of the Magic Academy Research Centre, Ameer Hassan is in deep love with magic. Since he left the magic school, this boy at his 14 has been proving that magic can go in parallel with school lessons. With his family’s support, the boy magician is opening doors of opportunities in magic. Recently he had a cool performance at the Wonder World auditorium of the Academy. Spellbound at the show, were children who were newcomers and their parents.

Spirited Sohan in magic

Sohan Balachandran

Thiruvananthapuram: After passing from the Magic Academy, teen magician Sohan Balachandran didn’t require much time to amaze the Speaker of the Kerala Legislative Assembly, K. Radhakrishnan. As a student, he was thirsty of getting a chance for performing whatever he learned.

If there is a will, there is a way. Thus came several opportunities for this magic boy, now a 9th standard student of the St. Thomas School, here. Each opportunity was a success for this spirited teen. Recently his enthusiasm has got recharged. Thanks to the certificate of honour received from Gopinath Muthukad in recognition of a sweet performance he has given at the Academy’s Wonder World theatre.

[Junior Galaxy introduces a child prodigy who has completed studies at the Magic Academy and began flying on the magic skies]

Aswin the ardent, clinches the first

Piravam: 12-year-old Aswin Raj is an ardent learner in magic. His dream of winning the champion’s title in the magical arena was fullfilled on 24th of May. The venue was a state-level competition held as part of the 4th anniversary of the Malabar Magic Circle, in Thalassery. On the magic stage, his trade mark has been an innocent smile. He regularly attends the monthly orientation classes at the Magic Academy. Aswin attributes his success to his father, Rajan Mathew; mother, Alice; sister, Aiswarya and brother, Aksal.

Set to become the best

Do your best to reap the best, believes this 9th standard student who to the magic world, is a new entrant. Karthik Prasobh, hence is a serious performer on stage. He knows that to become the best is not an easy task. So he practices relentlessly before staging each item. To keep school lessons and ‘Hogwart’ studies with equal importance, is a difficult thing. However, Karthik has managed to do so. Thanks to the boundless support his family has been providing.

His little sister, Karthu Prasobh shines as a prompt assistant during her brother’s magic shows. “I was at the seventh heaven when the entire audience appreciated me during my second public performance” a beaming Karthik says as his eyes sparkle behind goggles.

Magic of unity

Child magicians, Arun Dev and Vinaya Prasad

Thiruvananthapuram: These junior magicians fly together. Together they learned magic, stepped out of the Magic Academy and began establishing their names on the magic stages. Vinaya Prasad a class 9 student of the Muslim Boys’ High School and Arun Dev, an 8th standard student of the Model Public School are now a famed magical duo.

Their, is a magic show specially composed - tuned to a vibrant music and planned cleverly to suit their talents. As a result they earn unending rounds of applause throughout their performances, as was seen at the Wonder World of the Academy on 18th of April.

Poll Result (May 2009 - 2)

There are incidents wherein even two-year-old babies of magicians attempt risky escape / blindfold acts in public. How do you view this practice of dragging young children to the magic stages?

Our readers comment as follows:

It's a kind of child labour says 76%
It’s an unworthy way of getting publicity comments 12%
It's an admirable practice said another 12%

Vote for issues of still more interest!

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Mind over magic

Psychologist, Dr. Girish talking to young participants of the Summer Vacation Magic Training Camp at the Magic Academy on 2nd of April.

Warning note

9-year-old magician, Master Rayees Rasheed, son of magician K. Abdul Rasheed led a road show from Thaliparamba bus stand to Perumannu on 23rd Feb. as an eye-opener against the increasing road accidents. The boy-magician’s effort was to stress the point on the backdrop of a vehilce accident that took the lives of ten innocent school children.

Boy with a dream

Thiruvananthapuram: Creating doves from nowhere has been the dream of this boy magician. He adds wings to his dream by way of not wasting a single occasion of performance. 14-year-old Athul Mohan has a streamlined performance wherein he would present with equal ease, some of the classic sleights of hand tricks and conjuring magic. Athul has passed out of the Magic Academy’s higher course for children landing himself at the third rank position.

[Junior Galaxy is dedicated for introducing a child magician of exemplary talent at the Magic Academy.]

His smile casts a spell

Thiruvananthapuram: Here is a boy magician with an appealing smile. He smiles to catch you entangled in his engrossing web of magic. A pass-out from the Magic Academy, 10-year-old Jithu Suresh is ambitious of exploring heights in magic. Jithu remains relaxed even while performing a difficult trick. A smile can work miracles, this little boy teaches. A 5th standard student at the Christ Nagar School here, magical talent has already made him a busy bee.

[Junior Galaxy is dedicated for introducing a child magician of exemplary talent at the Magic Academy.]