More magical evenings

Thiruvananthapuram: Evenings can be more entertaining now for the city dwellers. The Magic Academy has launched evening courses in the art and science of magic. The course mainly aims at the working class who are engaged during the daytime.

Class timings is from 6pm to 7.30pm. There will be basic and higher modules. Each module would have approximately 15 classes.

Course ofexcellence

For magicians who wish to conceive a 30-40 minutes of show, the Academy offers a ‘Course of Excellence’. The classes will help the participants to streamline their ongoing shows and make it more attractive. The stage, light and sound etc. available with the Wonder World auditorium of the Academy will be permitted for practicing sessions. The course has already been offered at the Magic Academy Research Centre at the KINFRA Film and Video Park, Kazhakuttam.

Residential facility

Both these centres have a capacity to provide accommodation for two candidates each. For a monthly fee of Rs.1500, standard accommodation with complimentary dinner or breakfast will be provided.

Other courses available are: Senior Basic Course through Sundays, Junior Basic Course for children (Alternate weekdays during April-May every year) and Five or seven days of Crash Courses in magic (Impromptu, Close-up or Conjuring magic).

More information on the courses can be obtained by contacting email: magicacademyindia@gmail.com or phone: 0471 2358910.

Magic - the hobby for all

Poll Result (2010 February 3)

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Magic would be an engrossing hobby for professionals like engineers, scientists and technocrats remarks 78% of our readers

It cannot be so, says 22%

Vote on issues of still more interest!

2010 January (1 2 3)

2010 February (1 2 )

2009 RESULTS: (2009 Jan. - Dec.)

2008 RESULTS: (2008 Jan. - Dec.)

Magic carnival gifts a charm of magic for kids

Kindling a magic lamp: District Collect, Dr. M. Beena (fourth, left) lights a lamp to inaugurate the one-day Christmas Magic Carnival for children organised by the District Council for Child Welfare and the Magic Academy. Others from left: Superintendent of the Children's Park, Shaji; the council member, Shamsudheen; vice president of the council, Sinaba Mammu; Executive Director of the Academy, Gopinath Muthukad; Honorary Director of the Academy, R. Raja Moorthy, member of the council, Ignatius Lukose and the A.D.C. and Secretary to the Council, V.S. Soman.

More than 100 children of this emerging metro were led to a day of magical insight on 30th of December, during a Magic Carnival organised jointly by the Magic Academy and the Ernakulam District Council for Child Welfare (DCCW).

Art of misdirection: Gopinath Muthukad captivates children through a hand trick.

At the Library Hall of the Priyadarshini Traffic Training Park near the Boat Jetty, it was nearly 12 hours of fun, frolic and magical learning for children. The carnival was formally inaugurated by the District Collector and President of the DCCW, Dr. M. Beena at a function in which the chief guest was none other than the children’s favourite magic uncle, Gopinath Muthukad. Assistant Development Commissioner and Secretary to the DCCW, V.S. Soman welcomed the dignitaries whereas the Vice President of the Council Sainaba Mammu presided over the function. In the brief function, honorary Director of the Academy, R. Raja Moorthy offered felicitations and the member of the Council, Ignatius Lukose tendered vote of thanks.

Memorable class: R. Raja Moorthy trains children in memory enhancement tricks.

Prior to the inaugural function, the day was begun with a national integration video, ‘India: Magic of Harmony’ based on the visuals of the ‘Vismay Swaraj Yatra’ Mr. Muthukad and team have conducted from Srinagar to Kanyakumari. Following these were four enriching magic learning sessions that gave children a thoroughly close encounter with magic – the one many of them had for the first time in their lives.

S. Srikanth trains 10-year-old Eshwar a coin vanishing trick.

How according to their wish, magicians control the attention of their spectators during magic shows was demonstrated by Mr. Muthukad. To establish this ‘magic uncle’ roped in some of this his favourite hand tricks. Consequently, a woolen string cut into twelve pieces was but rejoined easily, a small red handkerchief was amazingly vanished over a white and bigger one and a coin was disappeared into thin air.

Mind over magic: Sherin V. George explains on the connection between psychology and magic.


Result was instant for the ‘Memory magic’ class by Mr. Moorthy. Participants immediately acquired the technique essential for listening to a list of 25 different things and recollecting them in ascending, descending and random orders.

Magical evening: People watch magician Muthukad's Stop SAD magic show on a temporary stage built on the lawns beside a pond at the park.

Afternoon sessions got a powerful start with a class on ‘Sleights of hand’ offered by the bank manager turned magician S. Srikanth. Mr. Srikanth, who is also former secretary to the India Ring of the International Brotherhood of Magicians, not only demonstrated ample number of magic tricks, but also made perfect one or two small tricks that some of the young fans already had a knowledge upon. The bank-man didn’t forget to train children perform a trick with kerchief and coin, just to uphold the message of saving today’s money for tomorrow’s good.

Amid fans: After their sessions, each faculty was immersed into a pool of love and affection from their little fans who circled around for getting an autograph.

How a magic show influenced one’s mind was the crux of Sherin V. George’s one-hour-long session. A researcher in psychology with the Kalady Sanskrit University, Mr. George led children through the corridors of logic to show how magic exactly breaks the logical cords of spectators’ minds.

Marking the culmination of the daytime activities, shown was ‘Wings of Illusions’ a video of magical translation presented by Mr. Muthukad based on ‘Wings of Fire’ the autobiography of the former President of the country, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. Hugely inspired by whatever they could gather from a daytime tour through the shores of magical ocean, children walked down to the lawns on the banks of the Park’s pond. There awaiting them was a magical evening.

Child magician Mohammed Shanu displays his talent during the magical night.

A rocking performance of ‘Stop SAD’ magic show by Mr. Muthukad and team sent strong sensitization against the curses of tobacco use, alcohol drinking and drug abuse. The magic show depicted the plight of a youngster who out of curiosity was led to the use of drugs. He becomes a strong addict to smoking, alcohol and drugs to earn a disastrous end to his life. Shortly after this meaningful magic show, the first rank holder of the Academy’s higher study for children, Mohammed Shanu came with his amazing performance. Clad in bright red suit, 14-year-old Shanu received good round of claps when he produced, vanished and transformed things with an experienced magicians ease. Then came a mind-boggling 45 minutes driven by the deft hands of Sherin V. George. A researcher in psychology, magician Sherin lived up to his profession, garnishing the entire length of his performance with more mind-effects than flash conjuring effects. Mr. George’s show had a notable level of interaction with his audience to set the waves of wonder engulf every corner of the open venue.

Magician Sherin V. George tries a mental trick on one of his audience members.


Earlier, Mr. Soman welcomed one and all to the magical evening. Mr. Lukose presented gifts for the magicians.

Much magic in stock for Cochin kids

Kochi: One-day Christmas Magic Carnival for children of age group 9-15, organised by the Magic Academy and the District Council for Child Welfare (DCCW) will be held on 30th of December at the Priyadarshini Traffic Training Park for children here.

The programme will comprise of a day-time training in the basic lessons of magical art and an evening ‘Stop SAD’ magic show against Smoking, Alcohol and Drugs by magician Gopinath Muthukad and team. Basic aspects of the magical art will be offered to around 100 children who have already given their names. In a function to be held at 10.30am, District Collector, Dr. M. Beena will inaugurate the event. Mr. Muthukad will be the chief guest.

The classes will be kicked off by Mr. Muthukad who will be teaching ‘art of misdirection’ a technique adopted by magicians to divert the attention of their spectators. Honorary director of the Academy, R. Raja Moorthy will teach magical methods to improve one’s memory power. A bank manager turned magician and former secretary of the India ring of the International Brotherhood of Magicians, S. Sreekanth will simplify ‘sleights of hand’. Connection between human mind and magicians’ performances will be unraveled by psychology research scholar cum magician, Sherin V. George.

A video show titled, ‘India: Magic of Harmony’ comprising of images of India as seen by Mr. Muthuakd and his troupe while conducting Vismay Swaraj Yatra from Srinagar to Kanyakumari, will be displayed in the morning at 9.50am. Another video based on ‘Wings of Illusions’ a magical translation given to ‘Wings of Fire’ the autobiography of Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, will be shown in the evening.

Certificates will be distributed to participants during a valedictory meeting on a stage set on the pond-side lawns of the park. Following Mr. Muthukad’s Stop SAD magic show, the day-long programme will conclude with magic shows by child magician Mohammed Shanu and his master, Sherin V. George.

‘Magic Crackers’ for children

Thiruvananthapuram: Blasting magic awaits children on the Diwali day. On 17/10/09 the Magic Academy is organizing a one-day programme titled, ‘Magic Crackers’ for children of age group 9-15. The event to be held at the Academys’ Wonder World Auditorium offers a chance for children to watch and enjoy magic of different types.

Vice Chairman of the Kerala Cartoon Academy, Adv. S. Jithesh will be drawing caricatures of 50 celebrities in five minutes to mark formal inauguration of the event. Honorary director of the Academy, Chandrasenan Mithirmala will preside over.

Teen magician Sujith will lead the beginning session of magic show with teaching. Magician Shaju Kadakkal will teach basics of magical art whereas magician Dareas and his counterpart, Jince Manimala are prepared to explain other related aspects. To fit to the celebration, each session is named as ‘Vismaya Poothiri’, ‘Vismaya Chakram’, ‘Vismaya Patakkam’. There will be 'Vismaya Kathina' comprising of magic shows by magician Shahabas Khan Vilakath and child magician Ananthu would mark a fitting finale.

Participants will get vegetarian lunch, certificates, one-year membership to the Magic Club and subscription to the monthly magic organ published by the Academy. Children who are already memebrs of the Club can avail concession in fee.

Interested children may register their names directly with the Magic Academy, Poojappura, Thiruvananthapuram during office hours. Last date: 12/10/09.
For more details, contact: 0471 2358910. Email: magicacademyindia@gmail.com

Freedom to teach and to be taught

[Editorial appeared in the August number of Vismayam Magical News]

Magic grows into a flowering branch of entertainment tree with the grace of artistic talents of its performers. It sustains with the support of scientific inventions and technological growth.

From Arctic to Antarctic, magic tricks are the same. But its performers vary, their creativity differ and the supporting aspects of science vary.

When in the beginning decades of 20th century, Harlan Tarbell conducted a postal course in magic, no English magician feared of a bleak future. When Tarbell, due to a recession in 1930s released his course notes in the form of 7-volume Tarbell’s Course in Magic, nobody was shocked. Instead our predecessors in magic gladly accepted it as their Bible in magic.

If everybody learn the same trick and perform, who will enjoy? This is a common concern quite often heard in the magic circles. But there is nothing to be concerned about this.

Classroom study makes all equal. But only creativity makes us different. In short, learning magic means undertaking the responsibility of being creative. To be a magician is not a job told for idle persons. Good lot of responsibility is needed while teaching, learning and presenting magic. It is essential that to be successful, a magician needs to be agile, aspiring and inclined to learn and teach.

Hand in hand, we celebrated the 63rd Independence Day of the country only a week ago. On this occasion, let us do not forget that freedom is there, to teach and to be taught. So in magic, let us take more and give more.

Hearty Onam greetings to all!

Class on patriotic magic

Magician Shaju Kadakkal has found a subject fitting to the occasion.


Patriotic backdrop: Shaju Kadakkal

Thiruvananthapuram: 11 years ago, while flourishing as a magician, Shaju Kadakkal was taken to the classrooms of a high school with the duties of a Malayalam teacher. But for the magician in him, this was no stop. Instead, his new job could only boost his power to perform more creative and educative magic.

On 8th August, the eve of the Quit India day, Mr. Kadakkal will wear the teacher’s mantle – not of language, but of Magic - at the Magic Academy. The occasion will be the 68th Perfect Performer Course. For this class to be held a week prior to the Independence Day, the 37-year-old magician has found a perfect theme: ‘Impressive patriotic magic’. Mr. Kadakkal will exchange valuable tips for making patriotic magic shows impressive.

Advance registration can be made at Tel. 0471 2358910 or Email: magicacademyindia@gmail.com.

Summer magic camp begins

Children curiously look at as wonder blooms at the magic class. A scene on the inaugural day of the Summer Vacation Magic Camp at the Magic Academy.

Thiruvananthapuram: Summer magic training at the Magic Academy began with all fun and frolic. Gopinath Muthukad was the teacher for the first day. For the first class, he taught the children a trick wherein a coin vanishes into thin air on rubbing over one’s body. Children liked the trick very much. Even though their first attempt to do the trick at their own failed, glitches vanished during their consecutive trials. “Magic is like this. Practice, practice and practice only make a magician perfect”, the magic teacher said to the enthusiastic disciples. The first class also gave them the key principles of misdirection, essential for keeping things from the attention of the audience.

Magic uncle's session: Inaugural class by the Academy's Executive Director, Gopinath Muthukad.

The summer magic camp offers training in yoga and magical art during forenoon. Language, science, personality development, juggling and memory enhancement are trained in the afternoon.

Language expert, Dr. Ezhumattur Raja Raja Varma inaugurated the camp. Mr. Muthukad, who is also the Executive Director of the Academy, presided over. Directors, Chandrasenan Mithirmala and R. Raja Moorthy spoke on the occasion. The camp woudl conclude on 31st of May.

Magic of Malayalam: Language expert, Dr. Ezhumattur Raja Raja Varma addresses children after inaugurating the summer magic camp.

A bit of magic to beat this summer

Kids, make a cool catch of the magic bunny!


Yoga and branches of science would have an important place in the Magic Academy’s popular Summer Vacation Magic Camp for children. Admission for this two-month-long annual training during April-May has begun at the Academy.

The course provides learning of magical art with fun and frolic. It is also a serious and scientific learning that would turn the participants into able magicians. Tips to enhance memory power, ways to acquire problem solving skills and techniques to earn an appealing personality are also taught. Intriguing aspects of Mathematics, science and what not – even computer magic and optical illusions - are also brought to the classrooms.

Magic sessions, beginning with a Yoga practicing will be held during 9.30am to 1pm whereas general knowledge and personality development sessions will be conducted in the afternoons till 5pm.

Venues and timings: Magic Academy, Poojappura: Mon, Wed, Fri; MARC, Kazhakoottam: Tue, Thu, Sat. Call 0471 2358910 or email: magicacademyindia@gmail.com

Wonders juggled at magic camp

Thiruvananthapuram: The one-day magic camp orgnised by the Magic Academy as part of its New Year programmes, offered a different experience of awe for children. Basic lessons of juggling was handed down to the young magic fans, by 'Ianna Tampe' a group of Italian magicians.

Children began testing their juggling skills by tossing balls in the air. For a while, the foreign guests and native kids shared together moments of sheer enjoyment, fun and laughter. Joseph Pistone, Daniel Pistone, Elizabeth Mugavare and Martha Cornelio were the juggling teachers. Children made it to juggle with two or three balls, but failed to copy the flexibility of body with which their Italian teachers performed. The Italians, who were acquainted to Kathakali as well as Kalaripayattu kept their audience spellbound with a 15-minute performance of acrobatics, Indian dance, music, magic and juggling.

The one-day camp also gave the lesson that magic is an art based on science. Dr. Aranmula Hariharaputhran explained on the wonders that science contain. Building and launching of rockets, installation of satellites on orbits etc. were explained through a slideshow by space scientist turned magician, Dr. U.P. Rajeev. Consequently, the children were carried to the skies of wonder.



A high school teacher – cum magician, C.V. Harilal taught how learning can be made interesting through acquiring a know-how in the magical art. The camp concluded with a captivating magic show by child magician, Jithu Suresh. Earlier the programme was inaugurated by the Academy's Director, R. Raja Moorthy. K.P. Sivakumar spoke on the occasion.

A cool buddy in magic

Thiruvananthapuram: Watch him while acting on the magic stage. 14-year-old magician Govind P. Dev’s face, look and action will send you just one message: a cool performer he is.

Govind is about to attend a final examination of the higher course he is doing at the Magic Academy. Then again he is as cool. Because the experience he has gained through performing a handful of shows by this time, has provided him enough courage to face the tests.

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

Magic Kits get the summer’s approval

Thiruvananthapuram: The latest brand of children's Magic Kits launched by the Magic Academy has become hot cakes in the kids’ summer markets. Each of these boxes contains 30 easy-to-do tricks that enable even a 5-year-old to produce wonder at finger tips.
At Balabhavans
Jawahar Balabhawans (JBs) means the comprehensive childcare and character building centres run by the government. Magic Kits had a foray into the four walls of JBs too. “These magic kits were introduced for the first time in the JBs of the State and the response was overwhelming”, says the Academy’s Administrator Jayakumar. Highest sale was marked at Koodaram, a shop at the Thiruvananthapuram JB, he said. To befittingly introduce the kits, the Academy has also roped in the help of talented magicians including Manu Poojappura and Abhinraj. These magicians opened these boxes, took out the intriguing gadgets and performed round of astounding tricks, exciting the curious minds of the young.
Video teacher
With the aim of offering after-sale support, a CD containing video tutorial is also included for free in these kits. Master magician Rajamoorthy appears in the video, demonstrating the handling and working of all 30 tricks. This offers a home tuition for children. “We have insisted quality of materials to ensure that wrapper along with contents sustain their charm”, Thomas, Chief Operator of recently opened Magic Academy Research Centre (MARC) said. Shop owners who foreseeing a big demand for Magic Kits during summer had gathered a good number of them well in advance. And their predictions proved precisely right.
Recently, the leading kids’ shop chain, PAICO even had to hire a magician for dealing the children who crowded for the kits at their Ernakulam M.G. Road branch. StylePlus, a front-row kids’ shop in Thiruvananthapuram has already contacted magician Abhinraj for holding similar activities.
Personality development
Magic Kits are not mere a kids play for the Academy. Instead, these kits have certain serious roles in the character molding of the younger generation. When children become young conjurers using these kits, their personality also improves. Scientific temper and self confidence are the two major qualities that can be earned through practicing the magic tricks contained in the kit. “Each item in our box sparks the thinking process and induces a notable identity among those children who starts doing the tricks in front of gatherings of the classroom or home”, says Mr. Jayakumar. He also said that since the minimum age for an admission at the Academy had been fixed as 10, for toddlers below that age, buying Magic Kits has become a shortcut to learning the legerdemain.
As a gift
For those who are on a look for one-ff gifts, Magic Kits serve as a panacea. It has by now become a practice for the elders to present these kits as gifts to children on auspicious occasions. “Magic Kits give the gratification for the giver and excitement for the taker of gifts”, says 67-year-old retired Government official, Madhavan Nair. He says this from his experience of presenting the Magic Kit as a birthday gift for his 7-year-old grandson in Kozhikode.
Not driven by any profit motto, the Academy sells these kits at a break-even price of just Rs.199. More details on the kit can be availed at email: magicpurchase@gmail.com.

Children mesmerised by the ‘Cardician’

Thiruvananthapuram: ‘Alice in the wonderland’ has become a daily experience for the children at the summer camp of Magic Academy. Each day at the Academy has been unraveling before them more and more fascinating facts behind the art of magic. Leaves of intriguing magical texts are turned before them by various magicians including their darling ‘magic uncle’ Gopinath Muthukad, who is also the chieftain of the institution.
The other day these kids got N.K. Sekar, a card magic expert from Tamil Nadu as their master. With his eyes shining behind the glasses, wearing a typical magician’s coat and fanning a few uniquely designed big cards on his both hands, Mr. Sekar grabbed the tender hearts.

More famed as ‘Cardician’ Sekar in the native magic circles, 65-year-old magician not only baffled his young students through some classic card manipulations, but also explained how he was taken to the world of magic. “I could find Jayasekar, my magic master only at the age of 18, because at that time magic and magicians were not as popular as it is today”, the veteran said to the keenly listening children. He said he was thankful to a leading light of Tamil Nadu magic, late Appa Durai who had identified his skill in card manipulations and inspired him to the world of cards.
Being the only magician in the country to get the unique prefix of ‘Cardician’ with his name, he has also exposed the secret behind his name. “To become a Cardician, you have to devote yourself for by-hearting tricks based on cards where knowledge is an ocean”, he advised the fresh entrants.

A specialist in ESP (Extra Sensory Perception) Card Effects, Mr. Sekar demonstrated a few mental magic effects before the kids. Consequently, Ramu Bhattathiri and Lakshmi who volunteered the veteran’s performance could not believe their eyes when cards automatically changed their designs and magically multiplied in numbers. When Mr. Sekar, with the help of young Ramu performed ‘Do-As-I-Do’ magic, entire classroom was burst in to laughter after seeing the comedy-filled magic.

His advice to the growing buds was that unlike handling magic equipments, a Cardician has to deal with cards so softly and carefully. He showed a pack of cards he has been regularly using for the past thirty years, but still has not lost its fresh look. “Card magic is an area where devotion and carefulness decides your success” he says. Mr. Sekar is also assigned to take a special orientation class for his counterparts at the Academy.