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.