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.

Poll Result (May 2009 - 4)

To the 13-year-old Magic Academy, readers of this blog tells

======================================
45% of our readers request: Come on, Magic Academy, open your branches in our places, too!

We like the services you offer for the magicdom says 31%
We like your service to both magicians and the public comments 21%
We like your service to the society remarks 3%

Vote for issues of still more interest!

This year: JANUARY: (1 2 3 4)

FEBRUARY: (1 2 3)

MARCH: (1 2 3 4)

APRIL: (1 2 3)

MAY: (1 2 3)

LAST YEAR: (2008 Jan. - Dec.)

Magic Academy at lucky 13

Thiruvananthapuram: Magic Academy, the hub of magic in India, turns 13 on 31st of May. A magical evening and many welfare schemes for magicians and the public, would make the anniversary celebrations remarkable for this Academy known to be the first of its kind in Asia.

Magical evening
As part of the celebrations, a unique magical evening will be held at 6pm on 31st of May. Minister of Forests and Housing, Binoy Viswam will inaugurate the function presided over by the Academy’s Patron, O.N.V. Kurup. Following this will be ‘World of Illusions’ an illusion extravaganza presented by the Academy’s Executive Director Gopinath Muthukad and team. Admission is free for all.

Free magic shows
Since the Academy is entering its 14th year, offered to 14 charitable social service organisations in the State will be free performances of Muthukad’s magic show. Voluntary organizations working on a no-profit motto can avail these shows for raising funds for their charity. Ambitious organisations have to submit their applications enclosed with copies of their activity report and forwarded by a letter from the M.L.A. concerned. Out of the applications received, one voluntary organisation in each district will be selected.

Free insurance
Magicians of the country, too have benefits to enjoy. Magicians of age 5-70 can avail free accident insurance worth Rs.25000. Annual premium will be paid by the Academy. This is provided in association with the New India Assurance Company Ltd. Insurance would be granted on a monthly basis according to the applications received. Term of insurance will be for one year.

Free Table Hop training
10 magicians of age group 18-35 from the State will be provided free training in Table Hop magic that is hugely demanded by hotels and resorts. Well-known Table Hop teacher and the Director of the Academy, R. Raja Moorthy will be the trainer. Magicians of the above age group having experience of performing Table Hop in a hotel during the last one year, can apply for this free training.

Applications for the above schemes should be sent to Magic Academy, Poojappura, Thiruvananthapuram 695012 Kerala so as to reach on or before 10th of June. Tel: 0471 2358910.

Magic for summer camps

Summer vacations are fast approaching. It’s time for children to dare the sweltering heat and play as much as they want. After a term of devoted learning, such an occasion of fun and frolic is essential for better development of children. Their mind and body take essential leisure during such vacations.

It’s time when parents fear if the vacation would turn their children idle or the vacation camps their children have joined, would prove futile. No examinations, no routine tests, no dictations… yet gathering enormous knowledge. In common, this is what the vacation classes offer.

No need of such worries, since now a days there are plenty of ways for transforming a vacation period into occasions of learning through fun.

Another gladdening development is that in almost every children’s camp, special classes on magic have become a subject of importance, these days. Learning magic is never a torture, but a thrill for our kids. Thanks to the engrossing elements the art of awe has.

Learning magic means earning some unparalleled qualities. Magic boosts children’s self confidence and cultivates poise. Magic sparks thoughts and kindles creativity. Magic is an art – may be the only one – that can serve science, technology and theatrical talents with equal levels of captivation. So if your child has some magic to learn this vacation, there is something for you to be happy. Know that by just taking in a scoop of magic, your child is going to aspire a sea of good traits.

[Editorial of Vismayam Magical News, March 2009]

Magic Academy distributes benefits to magicians

A milestone in the service track of the Academy


Receiving the aid: (From Left) Magician K.M. Bava, P. Balakrishnan and T.B. Haridas receive free magic wares issued by the Magic Academy, from Kozhikode Mayor, M. Bhaskaran.

Kozhikode: 21st of February marked a milestone day for the Magic Academy that has devoted itself for the service to the native magic. On the day, at the Press Club hall here, the Academy’s first ever welfare measures were distributed to 8 beneficiaries from all over the State. If three financially backward magicians received free magic equipments worth Rs.5000, each; there were five children who scored exceptional marks in the SSLC/equivalent class to receive a two-year scholarship of Rs.2500 per annum.


Encouraging gesture: (From left) Abee Shejrik Fasla, K.S. Sujith Kumar, O.T. Nikhila, T.S. Saboora and V. Lijina - children of magicians - receive educational scholarships instituted by the Magic Academy, from Kozhikode Mayor, M. Bhaskaran.

The City Mayor, M. Bhaskaran handed over free magic equipments worth Rs.5000 each to magicians, K.M. Bava (Malappuram), P. Balakrishnan (Palakkad) and T.B. Haridas (Thrissur). Educational scholarships went to Abee Shejrik Fasla, son of magician Mustafa Haji from Wayanad; Nikhila O.T., daughter of O.T. Shanmukhan of Malappuram; V. Lijina, daughter of V.C. Kolath a magician belonging to Kannur; Saboora T.S. daughter of Alappuzha-based magician Saleem T. and K.S. Sujith Kumar son of magician V. Sivadasan Nair from Thiruvananthapuram. Magician Pradeep Houdino, a well-wisher of the Academy and the proprietor of Magic World was present on the dais. Executive Director of the Academy, Gopinath Muthukad made an introductory speech. Asst. Editor of Vismayam Magical News, 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.]

Poll Result (October 2008 - 1)

Do u believe traditional street magic in India gets its due recognition?

80% says No and
20% says Yes

Vote for issues of still more interest!

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Former magic students meet, share magical memories

Magician Chandrasenan Mithirmala (centre), Secretary of the newly formed Alumni organisation of the Magic Academy, being flanked by his colleagues. (From left) Magicians, J. Sreekumaran Nair (Treasurer), K. Sathyaseelan (Joint Secretary), S. Somasekharan Nair (President) and Sreena Sreekumar (Vice President).

Thiruvananthapuram: An alumni forum for the Asia’s first Magic Academy is launched to make none of its former students escape from the bondage of togetherness. When former students of the Magic Academy met, they bounded each other with chains of friendship and locks of affection – not to escape from, but to endure for ever.

They showed sleights of hand tricks and shared jokes. Many of them unveiled how they kept their magic learning a secret at their homes. Whenever Pradeepkumar, a senior lecturer in Medical Lab Techniques of the Medical College went for magic classes, he had used tell his wife that he was going for collecting some research materials. But once their magical skills were made public, families and friends had only acknowledged them with adoration.


Former student and present Director of the Academy, R. Raja Moorthy offering the magical delight to his friends at the alumni meeting.

71-year-old retired P.W.D. Engineer, Somakumar to 13-year-old Ramu Bhattathiri were among the former students. Women representation was also not bad. Music teacher, Geetha; engineering students, Athira and Rugma and plus two student, Sreena talked about the advantages of ladies learning the magical art. Both Athira and Rugma, who became magic students at the age of 10, were rhetoric on the benefits magic has earned for them, not only in their school and college classes, but also during campus interviews.

Students of the first batch, Chandrasenan Mithirmala and R. Raja Moorthy baffled their friends with some the latest demonstrations of legerdemain. For Mr. Chandrasenan who is also the chairman of the Head load Workers Welfare Board, magic is the principal source of solace during free time.

Present during the get-together were mainly those who have completed various courses offered at the Academy during the past 12 years. With an objective of updating as well as brushing up their knowledge in legerdemain, a new organization of the alumni was also formed.

Former students can join in the alumni by sending their details at magicacademy@gmail.com.

Magic Academy offers free video shows

Thiruvananthapuram: As part of Independence Day celebrations, the Magic Academy offers free screening of a national integration video for schools in Thiruvananthapuram district. Paraphernalia including screen and projector will be provided by the Academy.

Patriotic video
Screened will be a one-hour-long national integration video titled, ‘India: Magic of Harmony’ conceived by magician Gopinath Muthukad. The video contains patriotic scenes of a vibrant India as seen by Mr. Muthukad and his team during their last year’s Vismay Swaraj Yatra from Srinagar to Kanyakumari.
School authorities who are interested in arranging the video show, may contact at magicacademy@gmail.com. The offer is valid only up to 31st of August.

Free magic camps
As part of its 12th anniversary celebrations, the Academy will be offering free magic training camps along schools in the State. Only an actual travel fare for the faculties is required. Interested schools may contact at the above email.

‘Yukti Jaalam’ inspires youngsters

Lashing the evil with the magic batton



Thiruvananthapuram: ‘Divineness’ behind the pet demonstrations of certain God men were trembled down, when Gopinath Muthukad’s Yukti Jaalam logically proved that such ‘miracles’ are nothing more than pure magic tricks. If you have the will to practice magic, you can do these ‘God men’ specials with much ease. “I do these tricks to entertain you, whereas so called God men do it for fulfilling their selfish motives”, a confident magician explained to the keen young bloods.

Demonstrations


When Mr. Muthukad pulled out statuettes from his mouth, unmasked was one of the popular supernatural demonstrations of certain human Gods. More of such pet performances by the social thieves, were exposed as clear legerdemain. This include producing secretions from photos and idols, catching holy ash from air and making predictions on one’s life. Yukti Jaalam proved each and every miracles performed by so called God men as magic that could be learned by anyone who has a will to practice.

Timely response
The magician’s lecture-cum-demonstraion was organised by the Kerala State Youth Welfare Board to reveal the spiritual frauds and to mould the youth with an ability to identify such social cheaters.
Recent revelations on the mushrooming human Gods, have brought a shame for the highly literate and civil State, Kerala. The taint only furthered when it was identified that many of these spiritualists are criminals and social offenders who use spiritualism as a mask.
Beginning from Kollam on 6th June, the Yukti Jaalam programmes were held in every district before it marked a euphoric finish at Kasaragod.

Conserve with a confession: Mullakkara

Thiruvananthapuram: “Let us confess for the errors we have already made to the environment and start conserving the nature”, said the Minister of Agriculture, Mullakkara Ratnakaran. The Minister was inaugurating the final performance of Monsoon Magic at Tagore Theatre here. A packed audience of health workers, nursing students and environmentalists witnessed the finale.

Poll result (June 2008 - 3)

Magic can be the best medium for fostering:

64% of our readers are of the opinion that Magic can be the best medium for fostering Environmental conservation, national integration and communal harmony.

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Previous polls: JANUARY ( 1 2 3 4) FEBRUARY ( 1 2 3)MARCH (1 2)APRIL ( 1 2 3 4 5 MAY (1 2 3 4) JUNE (1 2 )

Poll result (June 2008 - 1)

Our readers' preference on magic:

Magic and Basic science 52 %

Magic and Personality development 24%

Magic and Mathematics 12%

Magic and Psychology 12%

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Previous polls: JANUARY ( 1 2 3 4) FEBRUARY ( 1 2 3)MARCH (1 2)APRIL ( 1 2 3 4 5 MAY (1 2 3 4)

Expose the fake spiritualists, the conmen!

Fake spiritualists douse the spirit of highly literate Kerala

[Editorial by Gopinath Muthukad in May issue of Vismayam Magical News]

It is disappointing to see that fraudulent God men are on an increase even in a highly literate State like Kerala. The State has recently seen these fake 'spiritualist' and 'swamis' misusing and mutilating the art of magic, for their selfish gains. These conmen resort to magical art, with the shrewd objective of substantiating their baseless claims of being supernatural.

These men act as representatives of God and deceive the society. Creating figurines, divine statuettes and holy ash from thin air, producing oily secretions and holy powder from photos and idols and vanishing of objects offered to God, are among their usual tricks. All these are nothing, but pure magic tricks that can be performed with enough practice.

Prediction and fortune telling are also nothing, but legerdemain. When one predicts a long list of mundane troubles of another man, quite naturally, a few among them will prove to be correct. Because all over the world, earthly life has gifted a set of common problems – mental and societal – for the humanity. The listeners of such predictions, usually affixes the right ones in their minds and forgets the wrong part. Devotees normally do not question the fake 'spiritualists'. This mass psychology is well exploited by these tricksters.

Those who suffer from mental agonies and those who are in search of a way to vent their burning confession of a guilt in life, irregardless of their position in the society, fall easy preys in front of these conmen. Later they become believers and stanch devotees.

Saffron and other symbols of various religions, for these God men, are camouflage that helps them elude the eyes of the society. Amassing money is among their priorities. They easily blindfold the eyes of the society by rendering a little social charity using a minute part of their mammoth wealth.

Magic Academy admires the media and the Government of Kerala for their recent bold initiatives by that have led to the unmasking of such frauds. This gives us hope and testifies that the power to discriminate between the virtue and the evil is still there.

The Academy re-dedicates its unceasing war against superstitions and pledge to expose the real face of these fake 'spiritualists'. We will remain with the people who want to unveil the ugly God men who misuse magical basics for misguiding the public.

Hashim Runner Up, Kudroli twice ace

M.P. Hashim (top) and Kudroli Ganesh

Thiruvananthapuram: With their amazing caliber and inventivenes, M.P. Hashim of Kerala and Kudroli Ganesh of Karnataka made the final not a piece of cake for their close contestants. Mr. Hashim’s entry to the finals was through the first in Conjuring Senior category he has fetched in earlier two levels.
Kudroli’s was an impressive entry by becoming first, both in the Close up and Best Entertainer categories.

Magicians march for their beloved art

Magic prowess showcased on the main roads of the city



Thiruvananthapuram: Rallies are not new to this political capital of Kerala. Commuters and drivers here know the Houdini trick of escaping from these long-winding demonstrations that throws the city into hours-long standstill. May 1st in particular, is a day of rallies, owing to usual processions by various trade unions, showcasing their prowess through the length, breadth and thickness of the rallies. But May 1st, this time, went with a different addition.

A procession by Vismayam 2008 delegates from St. Joseph’s school to Asan Square has introduced before the onlookers not only the strength of magician fraternity, but also the flamboyance of their magical costumes, hats and wands. Adding grandeur to the rally, went a brigade of the mounted police. Bands of traditional percussions went behind it.

Magicians marched in ecstasy, inspired by the magical moments that beckon. They danced in joy driven by the dreams of delight. They moved shoulder to shoulder, unbothered of mundane burdens. It was a show, a march, an expression from the hearts for magic, the beloved art.

Bring the science and art of magic to the people: Binoy Viswam

Reverent gesture: Minister, Binoy Viswam greeting senior magician Great K. Lal at the gala venue, on the second day of Vismayam 2008.

Thiruvananthapuram: The Minister of Forests, Binoy Viswam has called for bringing the art and science of magic to the people. “Unless institutions like the Magic Academy were there, propagators of superstitions would have made the art of magic ugly in our soceity”, the Minister said.

K. Lal graces the event

Doyen of magic from Gujarat, Great K. Lal was the chief guest. Mr. Lal was of profound appreciation for the magical endeavours of the Academy’s Executive Director, Gopinath Muthukad. He was luxurious in praising the national integration endeavour undertaken by Mr. Muthukad. Following the speeches, the venue was taken over by global magic stars, Jorge Blass (Spain), Mirko (Argentina) and Fukai disciples, Hikari Furuyama and Shinichiro Ito (Japan).

CM lauds magicians’ virtuous move

V.S. Achuthanandan inaugurates Vismayam 2008


Chief Minister, V.S. Achuthanandan lighting a traditional lamp marking the inauguration of Vismayam 2008. Also seen are (from left): General Convenor of the festival, M.B. Sanil Kumar; Chairman of SB Global, R. Balachandran; Tourism Secretary, Dr. V. Venu; Minister of Tourism, Home and Vigilence, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan; Minister of Law, Sports and Youth Affairs, M. Vijayakumar and Executive Director of Magic Academy, Gopinath Muthukad.

Thiruvananthapuram: “Under Gopinath Muthukad, magicians of the country are inspired to carry a fight for the win of virtues over evils” said the Chief Minister, V.S. Achuthanandan. He was addressing one thousand magicians assembled from various parts of the country and abroad, after inaugurating the four-day global festival of magic, Vismayam 2008 at the University Senate Hall on 1st May. The CM described the international convention as an admirable movement and wished every success for the same.

Magic for tourism stressed
During his presidential speech, the Minister of Tourism and Home, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan pointed that the international confluence was held at a time when magic was becoming more and more popular as an art. His department’s decision to support the event was chiefly because of the proven quality of magical art as a tourism catalyst.

Foil attempt flayed
The Vismayam 2008 was an endeavour to liberate the art of magic to the masses which required support from all corners, said the Minister of Law, Sports and Youth Welfare, M. Vijayakumar.

“It was the unwanted suspicion a section of people had, that has foiled the proposed magic show by Mohanlal”, the Minister told.

Chairman of SB Global, R. Balachandran spoke on the occasion. Tourism Secretary, Dr. V. Venu welcomed the dignitaries and Executive Director of Magic Academy, Gopinath Muthukad tendered vote of thanks.

Earlier, magicians came to the venue taking a procession accompanied by traditional percussions, men holding decorated umbrellas and a contingent of mounted police. The gates to University Senate Hall were thrown open to the magicians by Dr. V. Venu.

Poll result (May 2008 - 3)

Magic is

A mix of art and science say 66% of readers of this blog

Only an art, say 22%

Only science, say 12%

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Poll result (May 2008 -2)

Ministry of Education in Kerala is thinking of including magic in the school/college curriculum (Photo: Kerala Education Minister, M.A. Baby)

52% say the decision is good

48% say it would be bad

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