Commendation

Noted promoter of art and culture, Soorya Krishna Moorthy presents ‘Ponnada’, a traditional shawl to magician Preeth (right) during a function held in Thiruvananthapuram. This was organised by the Magic Academy Alumni Association Thiruvananthapuram (MAAAT), in honour of an exceptional ability in magical art the 25-year-old Preeth has achieved, overcoming his congenital speech and hearing disorders. From left: Secretary of MAAAT, Chandrasenan Mithirmala; member, Sreena Sreekumar; noted poet, Ezhachery Ramachandran; Executive Director of the Magic Academy, Gopinath Muthukad and President of the MAAAT, Somasekharan Nair.

Magic Academy Alumni Association becomes operational

Minister of Law, M. Vijayakumar inaugurates Magic Academy’s newly formed alumni association in Thiruvananthapuram. Sitting from left: President of the organisation, Somasekharan Nair; writer, Dr. George Onakoor and Executive Director of the Academy, Gopinath Muthukad.

Thiruvananthapuram: Magic Academy Alumni Association, Thiruvananthapuram (MAAAT) has become operational. The organization was formally inaugurated by the Minister of Law, M. Vijayakumar on 10th of January. The inaugural function was held at the solemn ambiences of the Gandhi Park.

During his speech, the minister made several references to the visit he has made at the Academy ever since its inception in 1996. Mr. Vijayakumar was frank enough to express his ambition of learning magical art at the Academy.
“In fact I have been nurturing a huge passion for learning this amazing art from the Academy. But I suppress it since I am afraid if people would have a wrong notion that everything I do, even the development schemes, are magic”, the Minister said triggering laughter.

Erudite scholar, Dr. George Onakoor presided over the meeting. Mr. Muthukad’s words in felicitation of the event contained optimistic words that the newly formed MAAAT would stand at its own feet and do admirable service.

Secretary of the MAAAT, Chandrasenan Mithirmala welcomed the guests and its president, Somasekharan Nair tendered vote of thanks.

Yona makes it grand

1. Front view of a physically disabled standing in the posture of a magician. 2. Magician Yona through his latest conjuring trick was manipulating from behind to make a dream come-true scene.

Thiruvananthapuram: Magician Yona took his counterparts at the Magic Academy to the horizons of magical knowledge. At the 60th Perfect Performer Course at the Academy, it was not a trick or two, but a dazzling dozen!

Exemplary teaching
The twelve tricks shared by the great Tamil magician was more than enough for the participants. “I shall teach you a few tricks and would be so happy if I happen to see at least a pair of them performed on stage by you” was the statement with which he began his premium session. And the observations made by Gopinath Muthukad and Chandrasenan Mithirmala during their brief welcome notes were not proved wrong during the class that followed.

Discount sale
As a gesture of admiration for the guest magician, there was a ‘Yona-offered 5% discount’ in prices of magical equipments at the magic store. The response was so huge that many of the items recently stocked from the Funtime were sold like hot cakes. “All the 12 Christmas silks were sold. It was a day of good business at the store. Magicians liked our offer”, says Shahabas Khan, of the magic store.



Dr. Ezhumattur Raja Raja Varma speaking after inaugurating Magic Academy Alumni Association’s curtain raiser event. Also seen are (from left) Treasurer of the Association, Sreekumaran Nair; Secretary, Chandrasenan Mithirmala; Executive Director of the Magic Academy, Gopinath Muthukad and the Alumni’s President, Somasekharan Nair.

Alumni’s programme
Magic Academy Alumni Association, Thiruvananthapuram (MAAAT) could organize their curtain raiser event with grandeur. Thanks to the fabulous Chaplin Magic show by Mr. Yona. The show scaled high levels of magical creativity as well as comic presentation. In one of the items, he invited an audience member with slight disability of limbs. On stage, the magician stood hidden behind the person and performed a few attractive magic numbers, just to give a feel that not the magician, but the disabled person was doing them.

Wife’s debut
After the show, viewers jostled around the magician when the latter attributed the success to Manonmani, his wife who was there for the first time as his stage assistant.