The vanishing act of local magicians
The art of magic is facing a slow and painful death in oblivion with many Magicians facing a financial crisis for staging their art but the baton lies in the hands of the youngsters for salvaging this defining art form of India.
Gone are the days of 'abraca dabra' amazements where a magician in his star and moon encrusted robe had the power to hold your attention and imagination for over an hour. Now, he and his opulent robe have been reduced to a decor for a children's birthday party. His sad dismissal from his stage of glory has sounded the knell for the world of magic.
Local magicians are facing the wrath of their profession with audience preferring to opt for other mediums of entertainment while giving this ancient art form a miss. Documentary film maker Amit Sahai explains the various aspects of life of several local magicians who have been denounced from their former fame with his creation Fading Magic.
"People know big names from Hollywood but they don't know magicians from their own city. Calcutta has a deep history of magic with famous names like P.C Sorcars and K. Lal but there are around 3000 other magicians who people don't know about" says Amit Sahai.
With audience's predilections changing from an auditorium experience to an international show on YouTube, the dilemma of the magicians for harping in funds for staging shows needs little explanation. Rana the Magician has been staging shows for the last 40 years despite being a Railway employee. Magic for him may not be a source of bread and butter yet the low turnout of audience dictates a tendency for him.
"These day with internet, brilliant magic shows are telecasted so naturally people no longer feel the need to go to auditoriums. People's has mind changed totally." puts in Rana.
Ignorance from society may have brought about the vanishing act for these magicians from the stage but there is a small brigade of jubilant magicians who are carrying the torch further. Young conjurers have casted away their robe to embrace a more human figure. They no longer use magic; they use the magnificence of science's tricks to allure you.
"There was a time when magicians arrived in turban but now they prefer magicians who look like them. That is why I don't have a costume." quotes Magician Suraj.
Even if magicians are giving stage shows a miss, the corporate world has sounded a miraculous bell for them with their inclusion at corporate events. This has become a new source of earning. However young illusionists are now keen on merging magic with business.
Magician Suraj is one such virtuoso who is reaching out to his fans through social media and smarter branding.
"Some people feel magic is a dying art but if you keep away art and look at magic as a business then it has a future. It should also be run like a business. A magic show is not sold, a magician is sold. The brand of the magician sells."
However for Magic Prince S. Lal and Rana the Magician the cast has been broken by time. Despite being featured in Sandip Ray's Gopi Baga Phire Elo, the Magic Prince has lived past his prime with sponsors now refusing to back him. The cards read the same for Rana the Magician who had once upon a time mentored Patrick Swayze for his illusionist's role in City of Joy.
"Magic as an art is slowing being faded out due to non-recognition from all levels. It has becomes very difficult to stage shows when you don't find proper sponsors." Magician Shirish.
The art of magic is facing a slow and painful death in oblivion with many Magicians facing a financial crisis for staging their art but the baton lies in the hands of the youngsters for salvaging this defining art form of India. Without a resurrecting catalyst, the magician's vanishing act might just happen for real with a flick of his wand.
