Mission India's national leg begins

Together for the Nation: During the inaugural session of the Mission India's national part at the AMC College Centre, Lucknow, Gopinath Muthukad and team had this photo session with officers and soldiers of the Indian Army.

The force under spell

Soldiers got this close encounter with patriotic magic session as Gopinath Muthukad, holding aloft the tricolour stood amid the audience and continued his wonderful show.

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.

Jawan jadugar

Different uniform: When Rajesh Babu, a Jawan of Indian Army, appears as magician Manoor Rajesh.

Thiruvananthapuram: Commanding Officer, R.K. Choudhury of 16 Madras, his officers, jawans and their families at Pangode Army Camp here had an evening of magical merriment on 20th May. On a well festooned, brightly lighted up stage inside the Kariappa Hall, enthralling them was none but a young Jawan bearing a huge passion for magic. He is Rajesh Babu a jawan determined to safeguard the Nation with all courage and valour. But on the magic stage, clad in a glittering Maharaja dress, this jawan would prefer to be called as magician Manoor Rajesh.

It is his 8th year in Army and 9th in magic career. Days in the camps are hectic and hardly provide any time for learning magic. Mr. Rajesh but takes up all these with a pleasant mind and satisfied heart. For him hardships are as enjoyable as a Volleyball play – his favourite game.

May be he would be the only magician to serve the country atop Siachen Glaciers. Out of his army service, 2 years were spent in Siachen ranges. He has offered 3 months’ service at the top post, too. His burning passion for magic had all the warmth, even in the lethally cold climate of this Karakoram ranges.

“Army has only supported my passion for magic. Everywhere, my officers and colleagues encourage me”, says Mr. Rajesh who has already staged 13 shows at army camps.

Presently he along with a 15-member troupe presents a 2-hour-long show comprising of illusions. The show ends with an item for national integration.
Some of his colleages joke at him saying, “Force se discharge jao. Civilian jaake jadu dikhake paisa khamao”. Yes, Mr. Rajesh has a dream of becoming a full-fledged magical entertainer - not now, only after retiring from the Army.