Indian magicians
Encyclopedia
Stage
or street
magic has a long history in India. Popular tricks include the rope trick
, Indian basket, Green Mango Mystery, Indian Cups and Ball, and Indian Flying Man.
P.C. Sorcar is known as the father of modern Indian magic. Some of his specialties included the Rope Trick and the Flying Carpet, and was a prolific author of books on magic in Hindi, Bengali and English languages. On Feb 23, 2010, the Indian government honored him with a postage stamp.
However chronologically, character and eminence of Mohammed Chhel
, born 1850 in Ningala, (Bhavnagar
, Gujarat) is distinct in the magic world. Mohammed Chhel, very popular regionally, is considered a Mystic
and Chhel did not venture into stage shows and such commercial performances. His target audience remained peasants, simple - ordinary people, villagers, train passengers and such a class of society. With his performance/acts he often intended to convey some message of life to people, and he would strive to extend with his acts/magic for the benefit of deprived people. There are also several other popular magicians and their groups in Gujarat, such as one more big name of K. Lal, Pro. Chudasama, and few others.
The grandfather of Kerala
's magic is Vazhakunnam Neelakandan Namboothiri. He played an important role in bringing magic as an art. Born in 1903, he learned magic after having watched some tricks shown in his Illam by one Mundaya Eachara Varier. Vaazhakunnam later became famous for Kayyothukkam, although occasionally he performed also "Cheppum Panthum" (cups and balls) to small family gatherings. After 1940 he started real stage performances with his troupe. Apart from magic, the shows included short dance programmes, comedy skits, etc.
Stage (theatre)
In theatre or performance arts, the stage is a designated space for the performance productions. The stage serves as a space for actors or performers and a focal point for the members of the audience...
or street
Street
A street is a paved public thoroughfare in a built environment. It is a public parcel of land adjoining buildings in an urban context, on which people may freely assemble, interact, and move about. A street can be as simple as a level patch of dirt, but is more often paved with a hard, durable...
magic has a long history in India. Popular tricks include the rope trick
Indian rope trick
The Indian rope trick is stage magic said to have been performed in and around India during the 19th century. Sometimes described as "the world’s greatest illusion", it reputedly involved a magician, a length of rope, and one or more boy assistants....
, Indian basket, Green Mango Mystery, Indian Cups and Ball, and Indian Flying Man.
Modern history of Indian magic
Derived from a Latin term 'Magi' which was used to refer to Zorastrians in ancient times, the performance of magic and its practice is in fact historical and very ancient. There would be definite yet varied purposes for the practice of Magic evolved where entertainment, tricks, deception, illusion, cheating in games, fun, etc. have been aimed. Sometimes, in religious context and purpose, it meant to offer social education along with some kind of preaching and healing too. Practice of Magic started to become evident post closure of 17th Century, and eventually India presented some distinct magicians in 18th and 19th centuries. West Bengal, Kerala, Karnataka, Gujarat, Delhi, Mumbai and some other parts of India have produced few great magicians so far.P.C. Sorcar is known as the father of modern Indian magic. Some of his specialties included the Rope Trick and the Flying Carpet, and was a prolific author of books on magic in Hindi, Bengali and English languages. On Feb 23, 2010, the Indian government honored him with a postage stamp.
However chronologically, character and eminence of Mohammed Chhel
Mohammed Chhel
Mohammed Chhel originally a Fakir was a renowned Magician of Saurashtra, Gujarat. Mohammed Chhel was born in 1850 in Ningala, a small village and a railway junction in Gadhada Taluka of Bhavnagar district in Saurashtra, Gujarat . Basically he was a Pir of a known Dargah and was involved his...
, born 1850 in Ningala, (Bhavnagar
Bhavnagar
-Topography:Bhavnagar is a coastal city in the eastern coast of Saurashtra, also known as Kathiawar, located at . It has an average elevation of 24 metres . It occupies area of 53.30 km². General slope dips in the northeasterly direction at the apex of Gulf of Khambhat...
, Gujarat) is distinct in the magic world. Mohammed Chhel, very popular regionally, is considered a Mystic
Mystic
Mystic or Mistick may refer to:* A person who practices mysticism, or a reference to a mystery, mystic studies or the occult.Ships:, two ships of the Royal Navy, a ship of the United States Navy* DSRV-1 Mystic, a rescue submersible of the USN...
and Chhel did not venture into stage shows and such commercial performances. His target audience remained peasants, simple - ordinary people, villagers, train passengers and such a class of society. With his performance/acts he often intended to convey some message of life to people, and he would strive to extend with his acts/magic for the benefit of deprived people. There are also several other popular magicians and their groups in Gujarat, such as one more big name of K. Lal, Pro. Chudasama, and few others.
The grandfather of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
's magic is Vazhakunnam Neelakandan Namboothiri. He played an important role in bringing magic as an art. Born in 1903, he learned magic after having watched some tricks shown in his Illam by one Mundaya Eachara Varier. Vaazhakunnam later became famous for Kayyothukkam, although occasionally he performed also "Cheppum Panthum" (cups and balls) to small family gatherings. After 1940 he started real stage performances with his troupe. Apart from magic, the shows included short dance programmes, comedy skits, etc.
Famous magicians from India
- Pir Mohammed ChhelMohammed ChhelMohammed Chhel originally a Fakir was a renowned Magician of Saurashtra, Gujarat. Mohammed Chhel was born in 1850 in Ningala, a small village and a railway junction in Gadhada Taluka of Bhavnagar district in Saurashtra, Gujarat . Basically he was a Pir of a known Dargah and was involved his...
- P.C. Sorcar
- Gopinath MuthukadGopinath MuthukadGopinath Muthukad is a magician, escapologist, and stunt performer from Kerala, India. He employs magic as a medium to convey his messages to society....
- P.C. Sorcar, Jr.
- Philip Tiju AbrahamPhilip Tiju AbrahamPhilip Tiju Abraham is a young magician from Kerala, India. His stage name is Magician Philip. He uses magic as a medium to convey his messages to society....
- K. Lal
- VazhakkunnamVazhakkunnamVazhakunnam Neelakandan Namboothiri or Prof. Vazhakkunnam is known as the Grand Father of Kerala's Magic. He gave a new meaning to magic in Kerala. He is praised as the patriarch of magic in the State. He played an important role in bringing Magic as an Art...
- Kuda BuxKuda BuxKuda Bux was an Indian mystic and magician. One of his most famous tricks was one in which he would cover his eyes with soft dough balls, blindfold himself, swath his entire head in strips of cloth, and yet still be able to see. He was also a fire walker...
- Prahlad AcharyaPrahlad AcharyaPrahlad Acharya is a popular magician, illusionist, escapologist, and stunt performer from Udupi, Karnataka, India. Renowned for his escape acts, Prahlad has been termed Indian Houdini by the Indian media. Prahlad is also an entertaining ventriloquist, and an expert shadow play artiste...
- P. James (magician)P. James (magician)P. James is a magician from the city of Chennai, in South India. He is best known for his famous guerrilla advertising campaign , in which the phrase "P. James Magic Show" and his phone number are painted on virtually every street in the city. It has been estimated that there are at least 30,000...