Second leg of Stop SAD starts rolling

Minister of Excise, P.K. Gurudasan inaugurates second leg of 'Stop SAD' mission by Gopinath Muthukad at the Shanghumukham beach in the city.

Thiruvananthapuram: Second leg of Kerala tour by ‘Stop SAD’ traveling magic theatre conceived and presented by magician Gopinath Muthukad was formally inaugurated yesterday, at the Shanghumugham beach here by the minister of Labour and Excise, P.K. Gurudasan.

Catching a message: A fisherman keenly watches as magician performs on the moving magic theatre.

M.L.A., V. Surendran Pillai and Commissioner of Excise, C.K. Viswanathan were among the dignitaries present on the dais. Stop SAD mission, similar to its earlier phase, is being organised jointly by the Magic Academy and the Excise Department. The inaugural ceremony was held with the support from Council of Coastal Residents' Associations.

En route its journey from the Capital to Kasaragode, the moving magic theatre would concentrate on magic shows in educational institutions. The voyage will conclude on 25th of October at Kasaragode. There will be two shows in each district. First show in Thiruvananthapuram was held in the forenoon yesterday at Nellimoodu.

Incredible performer and imposing messages

The first phase of the Stop SAD travelling magic theatre was started from Thiruvananthapuram on 11th of February this year, receiving a flag from the hands of Chief Minister, V.S. Achuthanandan. Magic shows by Mr. Muthukad and street play created by scriptwriter Karivelloor Murali and director, Pramod Payyannur are the chief contents of the moving theatre.

Attentive: A good turn out of the members of the coastal residents' association was there.

During the first phase of the voyage there were incidents of addicted people confessing and taking oath in front of the magician to quit smoking, drinking and chewing tobacco products. Women from the shattered families of alcohol addicts demanded the conduct of the magic show at their villages. Several NGOs were also of the same demand. It was in this context that the Minister of Excise had decided to conduct of the programme in the grassroots, especially along educational institutions.

Minister, P.K. Gurudasan and M.L.A., V. Surendran Pillai congratulate the crew of moving magic theatre, after the show at the beach.


Huge crowd of students attended the first performance at Nellimoodu school.

Children take Mass Pledge at home

Asianet makes a historic effort

Parents, allow your children tonight 8pm to watch Munch Star Singer on Asianet. This would enable them to take part in a historic mass pledge against evils of tobacco, alcohol and drugs at home, standing close to the comforts you provide. Don't miss this wonderful opportunity for your child to get in friendship with a virtuous idea.

'Stop SAD': A show that lives by its name

Moving Magic Theatre marks the end of a fruitful journey today.


Gopinath Muthukad on action aboard his moving magic theatre.

Thiruvananthapuram: If anybody believes that alcohol has a power to give pleasure for mind and soul, Gopinath Muthukad has the answer. “In my life I have never tasted alcohol, cigarette or drugs. I have never felt any discomfort of being so”, says a confident magician, standing on the elevated stage of his Moving Magic Theatre. Saying this, he proceeds to his performances. One after the other, illusions are staged to disseminate the hazards posed by smoking, alcohol and drugs.

Transformation
Those viewers, who were not aware of the perilous consequences, took a strong pledge not to continue their bad habits. Others went back with a new resolve to fight against the poisonous substances. For example, just after a performance in Kottayam district, Mathew, a middle aged addict stepped on to the stage, caught hold of the magician’s hands, broke down in tears in confession of his affinity for narcotic substances. Then he announced his decision to abstain from the poison that would erode away his health as well as family’s wealth.

The 14-day-long travel of the magic theatre culminates successfully at Kasaragode, today.

Knitting together magic and drama

Street play: A woman breaks into tears as the first birthday of her babe is her husband's liquor party.

Thiruvananthapuram: Gopinath Muthukad has knit together threads of magic and drama in his latest endeavour, ‘Stop SAD’. Still, neither the drama has a role in the magic show nor does the magic occur amid drama scenes.

The street play is scripted by Karivellur Murali and directed by Pramod Payyannur.
The skill of the feted theatre duo is exuberant in the 35-minute play. The play depicts how Sathyapalan the protagonist, is forced to bear the curse of alcohol ever since his first birthday.

The neglect from the part of his irresponsible father plunges the family into the depths of disaster.

Later the youth along with his father makes a comes back, only to recognize that smoking, alcohol and drugs are the trio that leads to tragedies.

Vendor of venom: Youth being caught under the influence of a hooch seller.

CM provides some points to ponder

Thiruvananthapuram: Awareness campaigns are not scarce. But their effectiveness is a matter of concern. This and many more points were conveyed by the Chief Minister, V.S. Achuthanandan, during his speech made on the occasion of the inauguration of ‘Stop SAD’ mission. The CM said that Gopinath Muthukad’s mission would further the popularity of anti-alcohol messages, but its impact has to be seen in due course.

Turning the mirror towards the current scenario, the CM unveiled that even a section of the concerned officials were consumers of alcohol. Incident of an IPS officer being caught in Maharashtra for illegally keeping narcotic substance was referred as an example.

On the high consumption of liquor in the State, the CM said this: “State’s statistics of [alcohol] consumption is too high to give the impression that the entire people here use to drink”. Every occasion including festivals, marriages and even death of the beloved has become a reason for resorting to alcoholic drinks, he told.

‘Stop SAD’, a timely initiative: Chief Minister

Moving magic theatre runs over tobacco, alcohol, drugs


Entrusting a mission: Chief Minister, V.S. Achuthanandan handing over the flag to magician Gopinath Muthukad, marking the beginning of statewide of the latter’s ‘Stop SAD’ programmes staged on a moving magic theatre. From left: Excise Commissioner, C.K. Viswanathan; M.L.A., V. Sivankutty; Minister of Excise, P.K. Gurudasan; Patron of Magic Academy, O.N.V. Kurup; Minister of Law, M. Vijayakumar and Principal Secretary, Taxes, P. Mara Pandyan.

Thiruvananthapuram: At a function held here on 11th of February, Chief Minister, V.S. Achuthanandan has inaugurated the moving magic theatre launched by the Magic Academy in association with the Department of Excise, Government of Kerala. The theatre on transit presents a show titled, ‘Stop SAD’ comprising of magical demonstrations and street play by Gopinath Muthukad and 25-member team. The title of the presentation, ‘Stop SAD’ stands in for ‘stopping Smoking, Alcohol and Drug abuse’. During his inaugural speech, the C.M. hailed the magical initiative as a timely one. “I am sure that Mr. Muthukad’s initiative would popularize the anti-alcohol messages” Mr. Achuthanandan said. At the same time, the CM has also remarked that ‘one should wait and see the impact of such missions’. The CM handed over a white flag to Mr. Muthukad, marking the statewide inauguration of the magical mission.

The function was presided over by the Minister of Excise, P.K. Gurudasan. Mr. Gurudasan said that his department stood pledged to stop the production, spread and distribution of spurious liquor. Joint efforts with the departments of revenue, forests and the Police were on to achieve this. The Minister expressed his thankfulness to the magician’s voluntary service for the success of his department’s steps to tackle alcoholic addiction and the hooch.

Patron of the Academy, O.N.V. Kurup gave a message against the evil substances. The Academy has achieved a notable identity not by way of mundane entertainments, but due to timely actions as implied by its motto, ‘Magic with A Mission’, the poet said. During his keynote address, the Minister of Law, M. Vijayakumar pointed to the fact that the addiction to the evils of smoking, alcohol and drugs not only made several families sad, but also pushed the whole society to the danger zones.

M.L.A., V. Sivankutty spoke on the occasion. Earlier, Secretary, Taxes Department, P. Mara Pandyan welcomed the dignitaries. Excise Commissioner, C.K. Viswanathan tendered vote of thanks.

Sensitization is better than prohibition: Excise Minister

Excise Minister, P.K. Gurudasan (fourth from left) and officers of his department watching the final rounds of rehearsals for the street play to be staged as part of statewide 'Stop SAD' programme conceived by Gopinath Muthukad. Karivellur Murali, the script writer for the play is on extreme left.

Thiruvananthapuram: Minister of Excise in Kerala, P.K. Gurudasan has said that his department would choose the option of sensitizing the public than prohibiting alcoholic drinks. “Prohibition has been a failure many times in the past thereby proving it impracticable’, the Minister told media persons here today. Prohibition could only result spread of spurious liquor, he reminded. He was addressing a news conference, announcing ‘Stop SAD’ a new project by Gopinath Muthukad to be staged on a moving magic theatre all over Kerala.

The programme under the auspices of the Excise Department would start from tomorrow onwards. In a situation of grave economic recession, people should not waste their heard earned money for procuring alcohol, drugs and tobacco, the Minister said. People of Kerala had been suffering from severe sets backs with agriculture and industry. So the new endeavour was his Ministry's earnest attempt to guide the society to a healthier tomorrow. On roping in the service of Mr. Muthukad, the minister said that he [Mr. Muthukad] had been in the fore with an exceptional physical as well as mental set up devoted for the cause of social service.

‘Stop SAD’ would be a combination show of magic and street play. At 12 noon tomorrow, the Chief Minister, V.S. Achuthanandan will be inaugurating the statewide trip of moving magic theatre, at a function to be held at the Institution of Engineers’ Hall here.