Maya Jadoo - Magic in the News!

Deccan Herald: Magic show to mobilise relief funds

2005-01-02T00:26:00.000-08:00

BANGALORE, DHNS:

With tsunami taking its toll beyond one’s imagination, Prahlad Acharya -the famous magician, belonging to the Yashaloka Magical Entertainers, will stage a magic show on January 2, 2005 at Uday School Grounds, Vijayanagar, Bangalore, at around 5 pm. The proceedings collected from the programme will be forwarded to help the victims of tsunami.

Entry is free for all. However, those who contribute above Rs 5000 will be felicitated on the occasion.

Noted mimicry artist Dayanand will enthral the crowd with his laughing comedy show. Television artistes including Sihi Kahi Chandru and Geetha Chandru will also entertain the crowd. For details, call 9448277247.

Maya Jadoo to perform in aid of tsunami victims

2004-12-31T00:16:00.000-08:00

Press Release - For favour of publication

Bangalore: December 31, 2004.

The Magic and Allied Arts Development & Research Institute (MAADRI) announced today that Maya Jadoo - The Mega Magic Show will be flagging off its campaign to raise funds for the victims and families of the December 26 earthquake and tsunami that has claimed more than 90,000 lives worldwide.

The first in the series of shows will be hosted at the Town Hall in Udupi at 5 PM on Saturday January 1, 2005. "What better way to spend the first day of the new year than by contributing to a worthy cause," asks the Executive Director of MAADRI, Magician Prahlad Acharya.

The second show in this series would be held at Bangalore on Sunday, January 2. The magic show starts at 5PM and is being hosted at the Udaya School Grounds, near the Vijayanagar bus stand.

"The entry to these shows would be free, and contributions are voluntary. The idea is to encourage the people who come to these shows to contribute generously to this noble cause," adds Prahlad.

"The success of these campaigns lies in the fact that the government of Karnataka utilised the services of MAADRI to propagate its Navachethana Social Welfare Schemes," says Magician Nakul Shenoy, the founder-secretary of MAADRI. The proceeds of these shows would be donated in entirety to the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund.

MAADRI, through Maya Jadoo, has always been engaged in social causes, be it conducting several shows all over Karnataka state to raise funds for the Gujarat Earthquake Relief Fund, or social awareness campaigns like AIDS Awareness Programme, Vande Mataram - the National Integration Drive, Election Awareness Programme, and Pulse Polio Campaign.

For more information about the shows, please contact Nakul Shenoy at 98441 30613.

Issued by:
Nakul Shenoy
Founder-Secretary -- MAADRI

Phone: +91 98441 30613
Email: indianmagique at yahoo.com
Website: http://www.indianmagique.com

The Prahlad Acharya Forum

2004-12-28T21:57:00.000-08:00

The Prahlad Acharya Forum has been existing at Networks 54 for use with the www.mayajadoo.com website. This has been integrated into the website now.

Also, a guestbook also exists at the website for you to leave your comments and feedback.

The Hindu: Garudi Jadoo Utsav

2004-12-05T00:27:00.000-08:00

Karnataka > From the Districts

MANGALORE DEC. 4. "Garudi Jadoo Utsav 2004", a State-level meet of magicians, will commence on Tuesday at Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala near here on Tuesday. It is being organised by Mangala Magic Circle, Mangalore, as part of its decennial celebrations.

Nearly 300 magicians are expected to participate in the utsav and their annual meeting on December 11 and 12 at the Gorakshanatha Hall at Kadri here. The president of Mangala Magic Circle, Swarna Sundar, told presspersons on Friday that the magicians would perform at various places in Dakshina Kannada during the utsav.

Prahlad Acharya, magician, said that a State-level competition would be organised as part of the convention. The winner of the competition would receive the "Garudi Shresta'' title. He said during the utsav, items related to magic would be on sale. Classes, seminars, demonstrations and workshops would be held as part of the utsav. Pradeep Suri, secretary of Mangala Magic Circle, was present.

The Hindu: Magic's in the air

2004-11-11T23:50:00.000-08:00

By M. ALLIRAJAN

The Hindu: Metro Plus Coimbatore
Thursday, Nov 11, 2004

Magic, drama and entertainment - that's Prahlad Acharya's show

"MAGIC IS illusion. Magicians create illusion for entertainment." With these opening lines, magician Prahlad Acharya treated an eagerly-waiting audience to his `Maya Jadoo' show. The show matched his words.

he event put together by Yakshaloka Magical Entertainers, the 20-member troupe of Prahlad, was spellbinding. It was no doubt a show of illusion. But the audience in the jam-packed hall, especially the kids, enjoyed every bit of it.

Each performance had an ethnic touch to it. `Maya' had a combination of magical illusion, music and drama, which Prahlad termed "dramagic". First among the presentations was the popular `Indian basket' trick, wherein a lady comes out of an empty basket.

Prahlad did the disappearing act and changed his attire in a jiffy, much to everyone's delight.

A curious few in the audience even stood up to see how the magicians played their tricks. The colourful `umbrella magic' sequence, where a steady stream of umbrellas kept coming from the hands of magicians, won appreciation. Prahlad's wife Poornima, also part of the troupe, presented a few magical illusions. Her take on Charlie Chaplin had everyone in splits. Then, there were the usual `unlimited sarees', `innumerable bottles' and `cartoon magic' series performances. This was followed by the `burning of a person' sequence. After this, Prahlad asked the audience to give their gold-plated wristwatches and ornaments. A few of them were game, but soon realised that their valuables had disappeared. Much to their relief, they reappeared again in a box that hung in the air.

The much-awaited grand escape from a `locked box' lived up to its billing. The act perfected by master magician Houdini was brought out well by Prahlad's team. All eyes were on Prahlad, who entered the box handcuffed only to emerge from the rear entrance of the hall in a few minutes. There was also the bamboozling sequence where Poornima was `cut into two', but came out unscathed. The show was not just about magic.

It also had ventriloquism and shadow play. In the latter, the team brought alive the look and gait of animals and the background sound only added to the effect. Prahlad's conversation with his wisecrack partner `Kitty' sent waves of laughter.

The show, which starts at 6.30 p.m. every day, is on till November 16.

Udayavani: Personalities: Magicians: Prahlad Acharya

2004-03-12T23:41:00.000-08:00

Prahalad Acharya

Prahalad Acharya, graduate in law from Vaikunta Baliga Law College, Udupi, took magic as a challenge and tried to solve the mystery surrounding it. Magic had fascinated him from childhood and made him take it up as a career. He is a self-taught magician, who have no formal training and his knowledge comes from books and help given by the great magicians like Lal, P C Sorcar and Uday Jadugar.

Born on 11 April 1975, the magic-bug bit Prahlad Acharya, in his career span of 17 years he has presented over 2,200 shows and 990 escapes. The dare devil performance of the "Houdini escape" has won him acclaim from magicians all around the world. Prahlad has performed extremely dangerous and death-defying escape stunts, earning him the title ‘Indian Houdini’. Also branded as the Daredevil Magician, Prahlad and his troupe ‘Yakshaloka’ has also been actively involved in promoting social education and awareness, through the art of magic.
Prahlad held several shows all over Karnataka, the proceeds of which were donated to the Gujarat Earthquake Relief Fund. Prahlad, who believes the art of magic to be a vehicle of social communication and education has undertaken various campaigns like AIDS Awareness Programme, Vande Mataram - the National Integration Drive, Election Awareness Programme, and Pulse Polio Campaign.

Prahlad, being the founder and Executive Director of the Magic and Allied Arts Development and Research Institute (MAADRI), Udupi, is currently nurturing a grand and ambitious plan to promote the Indian magic. He had recently been to the Gulf countries of Dubai and United Arab Emirates, and entertained his overseas fans also. Performing the ancient art of legerdemain in his own inimitable style, Prahlad has won himself a worthy place in the history of Indian Magic.

Prahlad’s achievements includes escape from Bangalore Central Jail, Shadow Play, Golden Chariot vanish at Udupi Sri Krishna Temple, Houdini escape at the Jog Falls, escape from the Maximum Security Prison at Bellary and performance of the Legendary Indian Rope Trick at Kadekar, Udupi (1997). He also conducted a Jagruti Rally - A blind-fold drive for AIDS Awareness from Mangalore to Panji (1995). Prahlad won the Outstanding Magician Award at Vismayam 2000 - the International Magicians' Convention at Trivandrum, Kerala (2000). He also pocketed the Gold Medal for Ventriloqism and Silver Medal for Close Up Magic at the Golden Magic Conference in Kanhangad, Kerala (1999).

MouthShut.com: Review On The Residency Restaurant by Kamal Misra

2003-08-15T05:32:00.000-07:00

The Feast Continues

Aug-14-03

If stars were supposed to glitter in the broad daylight and yet remain as powerful a visible entity as the sun does, then people would no longer respect the Sun for the amount of shine they get. The collection of a handful of stars would alone account for a dozen suns. When the issue comes to choosing a good restaurant, the distinction between Four and Five star facilities wanes into a thread as thin as the celia projecting out of a Jelly fish’s body. A Five star facility in all it’s capacity may not equal the style and ambience put forth by a Four star one at all instances.

Residency Towers stands high in one of the corners of Busy Vani Mahal Cross roads in Chennai. Vani Mahal is a culture rich auditorium known for hosting diverse cultural events which range from vocal concerts to Prahlad Acharya’s Magic shows. Far across the Traffic signal soars up the towering structure spanning seven to eight floors. Flanked by one of Satyam computer’s six development centres, Residency overlooks the steel glass frame of Hexaware Technologies at a distant corner on the same side of the road christened G N Chetty Road which is one of Chennai’s busy traffic channels. The walls are painted in the hues of Earth and Mahogany and a hundred windows open to the altitude that is bound to make any Bungee-Jumping freak proud. A thick foliage gives the building a pristine look as a bevy of automobiles line outside the premises unattended.

I was fortunate to get a sneak preview into the proceedings of the famed Residency restaurant, courtesy a formal business lunch arranged with my clients from Hewlett Packard, Atlanta. The restaurant is situated on the first floor and you have to climb up the steep staircase. Two giant doors fitted with Brass knobs await your gratuitous initiation as a small yet immaculately furnished room welcomes you. As one moves ahead, a long table at the centre of the room with the eatables contained in silver and stainless steel vessels stands guard. Seating arrangement for the multitude has been done in the form of a long oval table at the northern corner while sofas attached to walls are scattered throughout in such a manner that people in small groups can relish the atmosphere while looking at each other. The buffet lunch and dinners are the prime specialities in this restaurant. To start with, one can choose amongst Tomato/Mushroom/Sweet ’n’ Sour/Chicken soups with bread crumbs floating and waiting to be munched the next moment. A kerala speciality AVIYAL is also let loose which is a combination of vegetables sauted in coconut & curd. Then, enters the cereals department, where in you have the option of choosing from Plain rice, Khichdi, curd rice, Pulavo, while the non-rice takers can satiate their taste buds with Rumali Roti, Tandoori Roti and Maida Kulchas and Aloo parathas get a worthy mention as well. You can go in for the Schizwaan noodles if you find the wormlike appetizers scintillating. They fare out the most exclusive of Non-veg items if you belong to that section, much in the line of tasty Fish in Cream (Taiwanese), Chicken (Thai Style), Lamb chops and even, Pork preparations. Hyderabadi Biryanis are a popular dish here. The Veggies too come across a huge assortment of delicious dishes. Channa Pindi, Paneer Masala, Dal Fry, Dal Makhani, Vegetable Kebabs, Mushroom in Butter Gravy, Moong Dal Halwa among others. Some popular south indian dishes are also available namely, Alapuzzha Chicken Curry, Chettinadu dishes etc. The overhead speakers suffuse light music and inspiring instrumentals into the ambience while one is busy digesting the loads of calories he was subject to the other moment. Then, starts the dessert mela where you have different variety of Ice Creams, Fruit mixtures,Cakes, Gulab jamuns and a variety of other sweets. The Sweet eaters will break into a jig at the sight of Rosomalai and Mishti Dhoi, a famous Bengali speciality. The process of mastication consummates with the inhalation of the strong yet tickling flavour of a glass of Jeera water.

Like the one I discussed during the presentation of a review on GRT Grand Days, we come across a hefty sum as we prepare to leave the restaurant. A normal buffet lunch costs an eye-popping 350 rupees which is undeniably beyond the pocket of an average middle-class family. But, since our expenses are soon reimbursed by the clients and more often, they are directly borne by them, we seem to relish the moments. If one is really optimistic about what he wants to gorge on, then Residency is one of the MUST-VISITS.

The Feast continues...

For more details about the writer, visit: Kamal Misra

The Hindu: He calls it Dramagic

2003-08-14T05:46:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, Aug 13, 2003
Metro Plus Chennai

For Prahlad Acharya, magic has a purpose that goes beyond entertainment. The magician is performing at Vani Mahal till August 30.

CONJURER PRAHLAD Acharya practises an art that splices drama with magic. He calls it "dramagic". It is an artistic genre in which realistic narrative, achieved through dance and music, is married to surreal elements of fantasy. "I draw from tradition for theme and setting," says Prahlad, after a performance at Vani Mahal on G.N. Chetty Road. Examples are Kadinalli Jatre, which dwells on a tribal subject, Punarjanma (life after death), Agni (a Vedic trick), Nada Habba (once upon a time) and the Indian Basket Trick. Incidentally, the last trick won Prahlad an international award.

Dance is integral to Prahlad's "dramagic". Even when the artistes are not dancing, they move gracefully and rhythmically to music. "We brush up on our dance movements when we are not performing, under the guidance of professional instructors," says Prahlad.

Another feature of Prahlad's shows is the speed with which one trick follows another. The settings and costumes are changed in the twinkling of an eye.

The shows are interspersed with comic interludes, with twinkle-toed clowns attired in multi-coloured raiment taking centrestage. Shadow play and ventriloquism are also added for good measure.

Thirty-three-year-old Prahlad has a number of Houdini-like "escapes" to his credit. In 1993, he performed an underwater escape at Madhwa Sarovar in Udipi. On May 20, 2000, he performed an escape act at the Jog Falls. On October 2, 1999, he vanished into thin air, "breaking" prison bars at the Bellary jail. On December 10, 2001, he repeated the feat, this time at the Bangalore Central Jail. Each of the "jail breaks" was pulled off in eight seconds.

Another well-known Prahlad escape is Agnivyooha Chhedana (escape from the castle of fire), which he performed at Udipi in September, 1994. "Following this, many magicians attempted similar escape acts and in the process sustained burn injuries," says Prahlad. On September 1, 2001, he did "a vanishing act" on the Golden Chariot at the Udipi Sri Krishna Temple.

Prahlad believes magic can be a potent vehicle for social reform. He and his 20-member troupe, Yakshaloka Magical Entertainers, have been carrying out campaigns to spread awareness about AIDS (in May, 1995, Prahlad undertook a "Jagruti Rally", a blind-fold drive from Mangalore to Panjim, for AIDS awareness), election ethics and the pulse polio programme. They also launched a national integration drive called Vande Mataram.

When an earthquake reduced Gujarat to rubbles in 2001, Yakshaloka pitched in. Proceeds of several shows conducted around Karnataka, Prahlad's home State, went to the Gujarat Earthquake Relief Fund.

Prahlad believes that magic as an art needs to be given a boost. "There are not many professional magic troupes in the country. The situation has to be remedied."

By way of holding his end up, Prahlad has set up MAADRI (Magic and Allied Arts Development and Research Institute), which is a manifestation of his belief that magic has a purpose that goes beyond entertainment. "It has immense potential as a medium for grassroot communication."

Prahlad Acharya will be giving performances at the Vani Mahal till August 30.

PRINCE FREDERICK

Coffeeland News: Navachethana: Magic show to popularise govt. programmes

2003-03-16T00:22:00.000-08:00

Navachethana: Magic show to popularise govt. programmes

By A Staff Reporter
Coffeeland News (Kodava.org)

MADIKERI, Mar 14: The Navachethana programme, a novel venture of the state government to educate the masses about the development programmes, schemes and projects and achievements in the nine various sectors through Magic Shows, was held at the Town Hall here on Friday.

Prahlad Acharya and team of Yaksha Loka, Udupi explained about housing, agriculture, irrigation, water supply and sanitation, health, roads, education, computerisation of land records and women's empowerment through magic tricks. Besides, the magician also provided information regarding AIDS, alcoholism and other social issues.

The programme was inaugurated by the ZP president, Papu Sannaiah at 5.45 pm on Friday.

M V Jayaram, advisor of the Chief Minister, speaking during the function, informed that the state government has launched and implemented several development programmes which require people's participation. Hence, in order to spread awareness about the government programmes, the popular media of magic show has been adopted to reach the masses, he said.

The team of magicians are entrusted with the task of visiting rural areas and spread awareness.

P K Ponnappa, president of ZP education and health standing committee and M K Baladeva Krishna, CEO of ZP, spoke on the occasion.

On the dais were, Kaveramma Somanna, president of TMC, the Deputy Commissioner, B M Shivaprakash, Kamavva Bopaiah, vice president of ZP, ZP members Moiddeen Kunji, V K Devalingaiah and others.

The students of Morarji School, Basavanahalli rendered invocation. Siddappa, planning officer, rendered the welcome address. BEO Bomme Gowda compered the programme and Gokul Nath Naik proposed the vote of thanks.

Following the stage programme, the magic show as inaugurated by H B Jayamma and Kamavva by performing a magic trick.

The Hindu : Master of magic

2003-02-23T04:34:00.000-08:00

By VIKAS KUMAR

Weaving magic is no sweat for him.

MANGALORE

He can juggle billiard balls, and do tricks with playing cards with such consummate ease that can put many of the senior magicians to shame. The teenager from Mangalore Master Samarth, who has now etched a place for himself, took to the world of magic when he was 13. Samarth has been perfecting himself in magic that largely relies on skill. He secured the first place in the senior division of `Garudi 2003' at the All Karnataka Magicians convention at Bangalore organised by noted magician Prahlad Acharya in association with the Karnataka Government.

According to Samarth, an hour of practice in front of the mirror has made him perform better. But what interests him are the competitions. It is easy to feel great performing in front of audiences and not realise how technically flawed the performance could be. But in competitions, marks are deducted for the slightest mistake and hence there is a desire to perform flawlessly. Organising such competitions will go a long way in helping many talented magicians, he says.

Samarth has visied Switzerland, Paris, Germany and Italy, along with the European Circus company `Robiano' and learnt a lot. It was this trip that gave him an exposure to the European style of magic. Samarth calls the European style as a gentleman style — there is no bending of the body, there are no fast movements of the hands or the body to confuse the onlooker and there is only poise and refinement.

Samarth will be featured soon on `Kuch Kar Dikhana Hain' that will be aired sometime shortly. He knows there is still a long way to go, but is all the more determined to make it there in style.

Saturday, Feb 22, 2003

Deccan Herald: Magicians get down to business

2003-01-28T04:43:00.000-08:00

Garudi-2003, the All Karnataka Magicians’ convention in Kannada held in Bangalore recently, attracted 158 magicians from all over Karnataka, to discuss, debate and formulate the future of the art of magic in the State. This first State-level magic convention was organised by the Magic and Allied Arts Development and Research Institute (MAADRI) with patronage from the State Government.

The two-day convention saw magicians discussing the problems faced by the art form and its proponents. A 12-point declaration adopted unanimously at the end of the convention, highlighted among other things, the need to align under one platform and strengthen the magical fraternity. Coming together will enable the magicians to put across their grievances to the authorities effectively and efficiently, says magician Prahlad Acharya, convenor of Garudi-2003.

The next month or so will see MAADRI launching a bi-monthly magical magazine enabling the magicians to keep in touch with each other, says Nakul Shenoy, magician and founder-secretary of MAADRI.
The next step is the publication of an all-Karnataka magicians’ directory and we have already compiled addresses and personal information of over 250 magicians from the State, he adds.

Various lectures on magic by prominent magicians such as Uday Jadugar, Kampa Gopinath Rao and Chandrashekar were a part of the convention.
A special presentation on magic versus miracles was also presented by magician Hulikal Nataraju.

The second day of the convention hosted the first ever State-level magic competition. The first prize in the juniors category (under 14) was bagged by Master Karun Krishna of Bangalore. The second and third prize were bagged by Master Srinivas Kumar (Banga-lore) and Miss Shama Parveen Taj (Mangalore).

The first place in the seniors category was bagged by Sam-arth Shenoy from Mangalore. Shashidar Shetty (Mangalore) and Miss Indushree (Bangalore) bagged the second and third prize.

The first Garudi rolling trophy Garudi Shresta was won by Samarth Shenoy.
Founded at Udupi in 1998, MAADRI is a non-governmental organisation involved in development communication and use of magic for social education and awarness at the grassroot level. The event was managed by Yakshaloka Magcal Entertainers.

MP
Monday, January 27, 2003

Times of India: Krishna's MMS: magic messaging service

2003-01-21T23:37:00.000-08:00

By CHETAN KRISHNASWAMY
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
TUESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2003 12:44:11 AM

BANGALORE: Swamped by ill-luck and dissension, Chief Minister S.M. Krishna is relying on a retinue of professional magicians to lift his flagging fortunes.

It appears that the CM's spin-doctors have hit upon this unusual idea to effectively project the government's welfare programmes in rural areas.

Over the next 17 months, a 20-member team belonging to the Magic and Allied Arts Development & Research Institute (MAADRI), a non-governmental organisation, will tour every taluk across the 27 districts in the state.

The government's PR machine has identified nine thrust areas or "the rural man's Navachetanas" which the magicians will be giving expression to through a series of imaginative tricks.

Says M B Jayaram, communications adviser to the CM: "For quite sometime, our team had been brainstorming on how to propagate the government's work among the rural masses. Eventually, we came up with the idea of utilising the art of magic as a medium for grassroots communication."

Team leaders Prahalad Acharya and Nakul Shenoy have earnestly put together a creative module.

For showcasing Bhoomi, the government's much-celebrated project of computerising land records, Acharya takes a document, shreds it into bits, implying this was the sorry state of the records before Krishna took over.

"And after the implementation of the Bhoomi project, this is how your records look," tells Acharya plucking out a spanking-new document.

In another trick to highlight Krishna's contribution to rural education, Acharya shows three pieces of rope cut to uneven length, illustrating the economic disparities prevalent in the society.

"See what education does to this society," he announces to the audience displaying the ropes, which by this time are all equal in length.

A woman expertly slipping out of the shackles that bind her exemplifies Stree Shakti -- the government's programme for empowering rural women. The other tricks pertain to issues relevant to housing, agriculture, irrigation, water supply and sanitation, health and roads.

"The challenge here is to give a vibrancy to the drab government propaganda. We will create spectacular magical illusions and present each of the navachetanas in traditional, folk and ethnic settings," says Shenoy.

The shows, to be conducted in the presence of local MLAs and party functionaries of the region, will be complemented by a touring exhibition.

Will the magician's illusions make the Krishna government a reality?

Deccan Herald: Magic show in aid of students’ hostel

2003-01-20T04:44:00.000-08:00

DH News Service BANGALORE, Jan 18

The Konkan Maratha Welfare Association has proposed to construct a hostel for those pursuing higher studies and those seeking employment, at Vidyar-anyapura in the City. In aid of the proposed hostel, the association is organising a magic show by Prahlad Acharya, a renowned magician who is also billed the ‘Indian Houdini,’ at the Town Hall at 6:30 pm on January 20.

The association will also honour senior people who have done the community proud. Former minister P G R Sindhia, Akhila Karnataka Kshatriya Maratha Maha Sabha President Prabhakar S Rane, Mr Hari L Khoday, MD of Jagadale Group of Industries Neelakantha Rao Jagadale, President of the Karnataka Kshatriya Maratha Parishad M G Mule and others are expected to participate.

The Konkan Maratha community of Uttara Kannada district is a well-known warrior tribe with an illustrious past. Their journey towards social upliftment began in 1920 at Krishnapur village of Sadashivgad in Karwar.

Farming is presently the prinicipal occupation of the community, but members boast of high literacy rates.

With Bangalore’s recognition as the country’s IT hub, the community has decided to construct a hostel in the City to help economically backward Konkan Maratha students aspiring for higher studies or seeking employment in the country. For more information about the project, contact (080) 3422246.

Sunday, January 19, 2003

ThatsKannada.com: Garudi 2003: Jadoo Conference

2003-01-18T00:04:00.000-08:00

The Kannada article in ThatsKannada.com about Garudi 2003 - The First Karnataka State Level Kannada Magicians' Convention dated January 17, 2003:

http://www.thatskannada.com/news/2003/01/17/garudi.html

The Hindu : A double take on magic

2002-11-05T04:39:00.000-08:00

Metro Plus Bangalore

By ANAND BALAJI

Two ace magicians - Prahlad Acharya and Uday Jadugar - cast their magical spell on Bangaloreans with intriguing tricks.

The Jadoo Jugalbandi was an interplay of magic, drama, and breathtaking feats.

THE LUCKY ones, who attended a magical extravaganza - MAYA - Jadoo Jugalbandi - held recently at the Town Hall would surely gather why the legendary P.C. Sorcar once said: "Magic is the ultimate of all arts." In what was dubbed as a "first" in the history of magic in India, two renowned magicians - Prahlad Acharya and Uday Jadugar - shared the stage and kept the audience spellbound in their own inimitable styles.

The event, organised by Magic and Allied Arts Development and Research Institute (MAADRI), proved to be a hit right from the word go. And this euphoria among the public was also high as they witnessed two master conjurers. The magicians share an enviable record of having conducted 12,000 shows, both in India and abroad. The performance was a specialty for yet another reason, for Uday was to perform onstage after a gap of nearly a decade.

As a prelude to the show, the 20-member troupe - Yakshaloka Magical Entertainers (YME) - undertook road shows, which aimed to create social awareness among people. It was successful in areas such as Jayanagar, Vidhyapeetha, Banashankari, Hanumanthnagar, Mysore Road, and R.T. Nagar. "Though this time we focussed exclusively on creating an awareness on AIDS, we had, in the past, dealt with topics ranging from the Vande Mataram (national integration drive) to adult literacy. We were highly satisfied with the participation of the common man in our endeavour," says Prahlad.

Thirty-one-year-old Prahlad, who was tutored in the art of legerdemain by Uday, believes that his hard work has finally begun to yield results. "Though I still have a long way to go, when I look back on the 16 years of pursuing my passion I can proudly say that they have not been in vain." The "Indian Houdini", as he is popularly referred to, has every reason to feel elated at his efforts for he is acknowledged as one of the few magicians in the country who has a mind boggling array of tricks rolled up his sleeve of which death-defying escape stunts, levitations, vanishing acts, and transpositions are only a part.

Prahlad, an unassuming person, is quick to laud the performance to the members of YME, whom he credits with, "working diligently and ensuring that every programme is a unique experience for the audience." YME has a truly magical track record, in that, it presented its first show in September 1999 and with startling ease and held it's 1,500th performance at the Chowdaiah Memorial Hall in February this year.

Nakul Shenoy, the founder secretary of MAADRI and an avid magic buff, who is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in the area of analysing the potential of magic as a medium of social education and awareness, says: "Our minds are constantly working on new ideas. Every performance is an opportunity to innovate or invent something entirely unattempted. Audience response is the only yardstick in our pursuits."

YME has held magic shows on both large and small scales in several places in India and particularly in rural Karnataka. "Our aim is to create social awareness through the medium of magic to every nook and corner of our state. It is always a challenge for us when it comes to conducting our shows. But a rural show is always a special occasion for us because it requires far less effort in terms of getting people to watch a presentation as compared to elaborate advertising for city shows. I guess curiosity among the village folks is their plus point," feels Nakul.

Coming to the performance in the City, it included the Indian basket trick (an international award winning act), Kadinalli Jatre (folk magic act), Nada Habba - Once upon a time, and Punarjanma (Life after Death).

Uday, on the other hand, kept the audience in splits, courtesy his adept ventriloquism skills and shadow play. The ace magician amply demonstrated his prowess and sleight of hand through the various conjuring tricks he performed. "I willingly toned down my acts and let my shishya take centre stage. For it is always a proud moment for a teacher to behold the success of his student. I applaud Prahlad's sincerity," said Uday, who quit performing and began manufacturing magic kits and toys for several countries the world over.

Both Prahlad and Uday, who hail from Karnataka, say that their claim to fame lies in the fact that they have mastered the art of "people connectivity skills. Eye contact with the audience is a must, especially when doing tricks with the hand, without which the performance will lack in colour.

Every person watching the show must feel it is a novel effort and relate to the magician," explains Uday, a veteran of nearly 9,000 shows.

True to their promise, the show was an interplay of magic, drama, and breathtaking feats. In addition, the resplendent attire, scintillating sound, and brilliant light arrangement enhanced the excitement. "Since our shows are an amalgam of illusion and drama I prefer to call it Dramagic," says Prahlad. The magic show had a definite Indian flavour to it with the leitmotif and imagery revolving around ethnic settings. For one as determined and gifted as Prahlad could awards be far behind? Certainly not! The Udupi-born wizard has earned awards and accolades galore both at the national and international level. He, however, admits that it is difficult for him to pick a personal favourite: "I consider every honour bestowed on me as an incentive to perfect my art further. It eggs me on to be the best in the business," he says.

Apart from creating social awareness with his magic, Prahlad and his troupe have pitched in their mite towards worthy causes too. The master magician held several shows all over the state and donated the proceeds to the victims of the Gujarat earthquake last year.

But all is not well in the Land of Oz. For a man who escaped from a box in a matter of seconds after being thrown down from the Jog Falls this poser is a tough nut to crack. Why do a majority of states in India cold shoulder the art of magic? "It is a tragedy that apart from Kerala, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan no other Indian state has a magic academy. Though everyone the world over readily acknowledges that our country ranks foremost in this art form, those who pursue the profession are not encouraged," he says. His colleague, Nakul, wonders why this apathy of the Government towards nurturing the rich heritage in magic: "Whether it's a birthday party, a wedding, or any other occasion, a magician is called upon to entertain the gathering. But sadly magic itself is not accorded the status due to it. As a result of which it finds itself in troubled waters today." MAADRI is now making efforts to bring the plight of magicians in the state and across India to light and revive its sagging fortune. MAADRI has vowed to ensure that magic, as an art form, will be restored to its pristine glory. I am sure that whoever has watched the sterling performance of Prahlad Acharya, will agree with me when I say that here is a man who can escape from anything, except your memory!

Nakul Shenoy can be contacted on 98441-15234 or indianmagique@yahoo.com

Monday, Nov 04, 2002

Note: The contact number has since changed to 98441 30613.

The Hindu: The magic of showmanship

2002-07-05T05:45:00.000-07:00

Thursday, Jul 04, 2002

Magic has been Prahlad Acharya's passion and he has used this skill not just to entertain people but also to create social, health, and political awareness.

Sawing a woman into two

LIKE EVERY magician worth his trick, Prahlad Acharya, who performed at the Town Hall recently, looks up to legends like Harry Houdini, David Copperfield, P.C. Sorcar, and our very own Uday Jadugar.

This humble and talented man from Udupi has been performing magic shows for the last 14 years. He is a partner of the Yakshaloka Magical Entertainers, the only entertainment company of its kind in Karnataka, which is a team comprising 20 members. He caught the bug very young. "When I was in school, I saw many magic shows and wanted to learn how to perform those tricks."

Prahlad taught himself the tricks of the trade through extensive reading. Today he's good enough to perform the escape stunts Houdini once did. He tried it out in public for the first time in 1993, when he locked himself in a box which was thrown into a lake. Prahlad took just 23 seconds to emerge from the water.

Magic as a performing art requires years of practice and a well-honed sense of showmanship. Accidents are common in this field and Prahlad has also faced a few bad moments. "Sometimes when your timing is off, there is a risk of an accident occurring," he says.

Prahlad and his team have performed over 1,600 shows to date. Though they have toured the country, they concentrate on the rural areas of Karnataka. All their shows convey social messages such as importance of voting, polio inoculation, and AIDS awareness.

Prahlad Acharya providing his audience a colourful spectacle.

Did he face any discouragement from his family when he showed his keenness to become a magician? At first his parents dismissed his obsession as a hobby. Not surprisingly, they were a little apprehensive about his taking up magic as a career. But today they are proud of his achievements.

Even as he taught himself the art of magic he also completed his law degree.

It was a struggle but Prahlad succeeded in carving out a niche for himself in the world of magic.

He was awarded the Outstanding Magician Award at Vismayam 2000, the International Convention of Magic at Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, in December 2000.

Prahlad recently had a successful series of performances at the Town Hall entitled Maya Jadoo. The shows, typically, were full of drama, complete with colourful costumes and traditional themes. The audience, mostly children, thoroughly enjoyed themselves during the standard routine items Prahlad disappearing from a locked box, his going through a glass sheet, the levitating girl, and so on. The shows were an interplay of magic, comedy, social skits, ventriloquism, and shadow play.

Prahlad wishes to pursue and promote shadow play which, he laments, is a dying art. His team is scheduled to perform in Tumkur next.

Prahlad's most memorable performance was at the Swedish Embassy in March, where he performed the legendary rope trick. According to him, the rope trick can be performed only outdoors, in open spaces. He demonstrates a simple rope trick, where he places a coil of rope on the ground and plays the been like a snake charmer. Suddenly the rope becomes stiff and stands upright, and he climbs up the rope!

Does he play pranks on his family and friends? "Yes of course I do but, my wife plays more pranks on me!" Prahlad also admits that he uses magic to charm his way to the front of a queue, with shopkeepers or even to keep a party going!

REKHA MENON

ThatsKannada.com: Prahlad Acharya

2002-05-21T05:32:00.000-07:00

The Kannada article in ThatsKannada.com on Prahlad Acharya and his Maya Jadoo dated May 20, 2002:
http://www.thatskannada.com/news/2002/05/20/maya_jadoo.html

IndiaInfo.com: Prahlad Acharya Photo Gallery

2002-05-21T05:30:00.000-07:00

Indiainfo.com -> News -> Gallery -> Photo gallery: Acharya's magic

Karnataka's very own magician Prahlad Acharya has earned the sobriquet of 'Indian Houdini' for his classic jail escape acts and dare-devil fall from Jog Falls. One of the few magicians to add a touch of ethnic colour to his shows, Acharya calls his acts as 'Dramagic' for the dramatic sequences that follow. This exclusive photo gallery depicts his various tricks including levitations and vanishing acts.

May 20, 2002

IndiaInfo.com: Magic is a mass medium: Indian Houdini, Acharya

2002-05-19T23:07:00.000-07:00

By Charan C S
Friday, May 17 2002 13:12 Hrs (IST)

Bangalore: He has been dubbed as the "Indian Houdini" for his dare devil acts of surviving the death-defying 960-feet fall from Jog Falls and escapades from high security jails in Bangalore and Bellary.

Concerned with the growing use of magic by conmen, Mangalore's Prahlad Acharya, 31 years of age, now looks at magic as a medium of communicating to the masses.

"With the passage of time, magic is becoming more and more 'practical'. Now, people are inclined to include magic shows for promotional activities. You can see a magic show during the launch of movies and other consumer products," he told Indiainfo.com in an informal chat during his 'Maya Jadoo' show at Bangalore's Town Hall.

Having been actively involved with various product launches, Acharya is also heading the Magic & Allied Arts Development & Research Institute (MAADRI) nurturing an ambitious plan to promote the art of Indian magic.

"Besides popularising magic as an art, MAADRI is also into research on the potential of magic as a medium of communication," MAADRI secretary Nakul Shenoy chipped in.

The salient feature of Acharya's shows is that they are very Indian in nature. With his troupe 'Yakshaloka Magical Entertainers', which he set up in 1988, he promotes magic with a very Indianised ethnic touch.

His shows include the Indian basket trick (his personal favourite, which also brought him an international award), Kadinalli jatre (festival in the forest) and Nada habba (folk magic acts). Punarjanma (reincarnation) and other acts comprising unbelievable escapades, levitations (gravity defying trick), productions, vanishes, transpositions, ventriloquism and shadow play are some of his other popular items.

Proud of the fact that his shows have a very Indianised touch, Acharya calls his performance as "Dramagic"– a unique blend of magical illusions and dramatic sequences.

Ever since he performed his first show in Bellary, Karnataka in September 1999, Acharya has completed over 1,600 stage performances in various cities and towns alluring the young and the old alike with his deft movements and 20-member troupe.

The best compliment that he cherishes is from parents who at the end of the show tell him, "You are a true magician, for you have made our hyper-active child to sit for two straight hours watching the show!"

Belonging to a new genre of Indian magicians, his aim is to spread social messages through his performances. He, in fact, has been actively involved in creating awareness on a host of issues like AIDS (Acquired Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome), national integration, pulse polio and other issues related to the common man, both in the urban and rural areas.

With a magical hat as wide or wider than a 'Pandora's Box', Acharya continuously strives to innovate as he enthralls his audiences. His efforts have won him widespread national and international acclaim.

Acharya will continue to perform in Bangalore till June 10.

Indiainfo.com: Kannada: Movienews- Shruthi will continue acting

2002-05-16T05:28:00.000-07:00

Shruthi celebrated family day (May 15th) with husband Mahendra at town hall watching Prahlad Acharya's magic show.

Shruthi had stopped acting for a while, as she would soon be a mother. When asked if she would stop acting, she said acting was her passion and this was a break but she would be back very soon. She also said that after this she would be very choosy regarding her roles.

Unlike her husband she is not interested in direction or production. When asked her is the theme love has taken over the theme of family, she said that family and love are complementary. All movies will have equal doses of love, family, sentiments , laughter and cry.

May 15th, 2002

Kannada Article available at: http://www.thatskannada.com/cine/heroin/2005shruti.html

Deccan Herald: Drama plus magic, dramagic!

2002-03-06T02:24:00.000-08:00

By MICHAEL PATRAO, Deccan Herald

Young Prahlad Acharya from Udupi is more than a magician. He is an escape artiste, an illusionist, a ventriloquist, and much more, says Michael Patrao

He is a magician. But what he does is more than magic. His magic has an element of music, dance and drama. It is dramatic and he likes to call it 'Dramagic.' Besides Prahlad Acharya from Udupi is more than a magician. He is an escape artiste, an illusionist, a ventriloquist, and a shadow play artiste.

His most recent and dramatic escape was on December 10 last year, when prison officials watched helplessly as he vanished into thin air from a cell of the tightly-guarded Bangalore Central Jail. 'Jail Break, A Convict's Dream' marked the World Human Rights Day as Prahlad successfully performed his disappearing act. Minutes after Prahlad was put into one of the cells of the jail by Senior Superintendent of Central Prison P N Jayasimha and Assistant Superintendent Jawaregowda, handcuffed and chained, the illusionist appeared amid spectators free from any bondage.

Earlier in October 2, on Gandhi Jayanthi day last year he escaped from the famous Bellary jail. He was handcuffed by the Jail Superintendent V S Raj. He was securely put inside a box. The box was tied with ropes, locked and placed in a cell. He enthralled the police and the prisoners alike by escaping in a few minutes and later surfaced among the prisoners. He also entertained the inmates of the jail with other tricks.

For his dramatic, dangerous, and death-defying escapes he has earned the title, Indian Houdini, after the famous American escape artiste. Some of his famous stunts are the car vanishing act at the Karavali Utsav, Mangalore (February 14, 2001), Houdini escape from a box at the Jog Falls (May 20, 2000), performance of the legendary Indian rope trick at Kadekar, Udupi (November 1997), a blindfold drive for AIDS awareness from Mangalore to Panaji (May 1995) and Escape for the castle of fire at Udupi (September 1994).

Prahlad last hit headlines when he made the 1.5 crore Golden Chariot of Sri Krishna Mutt at Udupi disappear on September 1 last year in front of a mammoth crowd. He repeated the same act with a replica of the golden chariot of Udupi at the 1500th show at Chowdaiah Memorial Hall on February 10 this year.

Prahlad also uses his magic for social causes. The proceeds from several of his shows were donated to Gujarat Earthquake Relief Fund. As a vehicle of social communication and education he has undertaken various campaigns like AIDS awareness programme, Vande Mataram - national integration drive, election awareness programme, pulse polio campaign, among others.

Escapes levitations, producing items out of containers or thin air, transpositions, are not the only things he does with a flair. He also performs an entertaining skit using ventriloquism with a pet monkey, Kitty, and shadow play with a story woven around it, showcasing his versatility.

The highlights of his shows include the Indian basket trick (an international award winning act), producing basket after basket from a container, producing umbrellas one after the other seemingly out of thin air, Kadinnali Jatre - a folk magic act using folk dance and music, Magic in Disneyland - magic using the characters Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck, and of course, the ever-popular act - sawing a woman in half.

Born on March 14, 1971, the magic-bug bit Prahlad at a young age after watching the performance of the legendary P C Sorcar. He made up his mind that one day he would make a name for himself as a magician. In a short span of 16 years he has achieved his childhood dream. Prahlad has performed in most parts of India and has recently been to the Middle East countries.

Prahlad calls his brand of magic 'Maya Jadoo' just as P C Sorcar calls his magic 'Indrajal.'. Prahlad is supported by his troupe from Yakshaloka Magical Entertainers. He is also the founder and Executive Director of Magic and Allied Arts Development and Research Institute.

He is the recipient of several awards like the Outstanding Magician Award at the International Magicians Convention at Trivandrum (December 2000), Gold medal for ventriloquism at the Golden Magic Conference, Kanhangad, Kerala (November 1999) among others.

Photo details (photo titles as given):
A] Magician Prahlad Acharya combining drama in one of his magic performances
B] Acharya and his troupe combining the elements of drama and dance in one of their magic performances

--- Appeared in the 'Youth Herald,' Deccan Herald dated March 05, 2002.

Deccan Herald: 'Abracadabra,' and the chariot vanishes!

2002-02-13T02:28:00.000-08:00

DH News Service
BANGALORE, Feb 11

It was a replica of the golden chariot of Udupi. Magician Prahlad Acharya, one of the country's foremost magicians and dubbed the 'Indian Houdini', made it disappear in a trice at his 1500th show, called 'Maya Jadoo,' at the Chowdaiah Memorial Hall here on Sunday.

The compere and secretary of Magic and Allied Arts Development and Research Institute (MAADRI) Mr Nakul Shenoy said this was the first time that this item had been included in Acharya's magic performance here. However, the same feat was achieved with the real golden chariot at Udupi in September 2001, when Prahlad made it vanish in front of a mammoth crowd in Udupi.

The chariot's vanishing was just one of the mesmerising items at 'Maya Jadoo'. Unlike conventional magic shows, 'Maya Jadoo' presented a unique blend of magic and drama, which Prahlad likes to call 'Dramagic'. There was also an element of dance in the performances.

Escapes, levitations, producing items out of containers or thin air, and transpositions were not the only things that he performed with flair. He also enacted an entertaining skit using ventriloquism with a pet monkey, 'Kitty'. A shadow play with a story woven around it also showcased his versatility.

The highlights of the show included the international award-winning 'Indian basket trick', producing basket after basket out of a container, producing umbrellas one after the other seemingly out of thin air, Kadinalli jatre - a folk magic act using folk dance and music, 'Magic in Disneyland' - magic using the characters Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck, and the ever-popular sawing a woman into two.

Prahlad also took the opportunity to promote AIDS awareness. He used the example of two assistants tying him with a rope and his inability to wriggle out of it, to convey to the audience that AIDS also posed a similar problem. Another educative item was about the evils of alcoholism. The magician produced 'endless' bottles of whiskey from an oblong container and cautioned the audience - "In the beginning it is only a glass, it soon progresses to bottles."

The City's eminent magician S P Nagendra Prasad felicitated Prahlad Acharya on the occasion, on behalf of magicians of Bangalore.

Photo details:
Magician Prahlad Acharya standing before the replica of the golden chariot of Udupi, moments before he made it disappear.

-- Appeared in the Deccan Herald on February 12, 2002.

Sify.com: Magician breaks chains, locks up cops

2001-12-13T04:44:00.000-08:00

Bangalore, Dec 11

Officials and inmates were spellbound and watched helplessly as he disappeared into thin air from the Bangalore Central Jail.

Renowned magician Prahlad Acharya from Udupi, successfully performed his new number 'jail break, a convict's dream', in the prison on the occasion of 'World Human Rights Day' here yesterday.

Prahlad was handcuffed and chained by Senior Superintendent of Central Prison P N Jaytasimha and was lodged in one of the cells of the maximum security prison by Assistant Superintendent Jawaregowda.

However, within minutes he appeared amidst spectators free from handcuff and chain _ locking policemen behind the bars in his place.

Prahlad last hit the headlines when he made the Rs 1.5 crore golden chariot of Sri Krishna Mutt at Udupi disappear in August last.

'Underwater Houdini Escape', 'Agnivyooha Chhedana' (Escape From the Castle of Fire) and Chinese Torture Cell were some of the special escape numbers Prahlad was famous for.

After the performance, Prahlad said he was planning a mega magic show in Bangalore during February 2002.

UNI
Wed, Dec 12, 2001

OutlookMoney.com: Play with your voice, try ventriloquism

2001-10-31T23:43:00.000-08:00

31 Oct 2001

By CHUMKI BHARADWAJ

Enjoy throwing your voice, and putting words in a muppet’s mouth? Try ventriloquism–it’s sure to leave you speechless.

IN THE Middle Ages, you didn’t have to be a witch to be burnt at the stake. Just being a ‘belly speaker’ would have done just as well. In fact, Blount’s dictionary dated 1688 defines a ventriloquist as one "who hath an evil spirit speaking from his belly, or one that can use and practice speech as if it were out of his belly".

Ventriloquism was billed right up there, along with voodoo and black magic, as a dangerous phenomenon that needed to be censured and exterminated. Denouncing it as one of the three pillars of witchcraft, the Catholic Church condemned practising ventriloquists to eternal damnation.

The ancient world, on the other hand, was much smarter. In those days, religious priests simply threw their voices into bushes, trees and temple walls to inspire awe and reverence in unsuspecting devotees. While the earliest roots of ventriloquism are difficult to trace, it is assumed that both Greek and Roman oracles, especially perhaps the Pythian oracle at Delphi, used ventriloquism to pronounce those pithy prophecies they were so famous for.

Modern-day ventriloquists are of course stars of altogether another order. Many have turned their talent into a money-spinning entertainment idea, while others simply belly-talk because it’s fun to do.

Read my lips. Ventriloquism comes from two Latin words: ventre meaning ‘belly’ and loqui meaning ‘to speak’. Vents, as ventriloquists are popularly known, are adept at throwing their voice without moving their lips. The trick is to do this in such a way that it seems as if the voice were coming from a distance or from another source, usually a dummy, doll or muppet.

Actually, as with most magic, more than a physical effort of ‘throwing’ the voice, ventriloquism is all about illusion and misdirection. As Mumbai-based ventriloquist Ronnie Vachha says: "Vents just work on controlling their breathing, and on modulating the volume and pitch of their voice to create the illusion of distance." Then by moving the dummy’s mouth, they fool you into thinking that’s where the voice is coming from.

Try this for a start. Close your eyes and ask someone to call you. You will be amazed at how difficult it is to guess where the voice comes from. You need visual confirmation to tell you the exact direction of the voice. It is this basic scientific truth that vents use to great advantage. They use the vent figure or dummy to create the visual cue for the sound they produce. Since they don’t move their own mouth, lips or jaw while speaking, the sound appears to be coming from the nearest logical source, the vent figure with moving lips.

Sound advice. But first things first. If you want to learn ventriloquism, you must be prepared to unlearn quite a few of the essentials your phonetics professor taught you. Were you taught for instance to open your mouth adequately in order to articulate properly? Well, now you have to learn to keep your mouth shut.

A vent must learn to speak without moving his lips. Impossible as it may sound, there are only five letters of the alphabet– B, F, M, P and V–that cannot be articulated without using the lips. W is another tough letter and will require some working. The rest of the alphabet, especially the vowels, is relatively easy to pronounce with a partially open mouth. That is why most beginners can, with a little effort, get a whole sentence like "Hi, how are you" with very little lip movement.

"As for the difficult letters, avoid using them as much as possible, and where you can’t, substitution is the name of the game," says Vachha. Use a D for a B, a Th for an F and V, a T for a P and an N for an M. So, boy becomes doy and please becomes th-lease.

Besides, the dummy can always find a way to mispronounce a word to make it sound cute or even funny. "But that’s only for beginners; with constant practice one can learn to pronounce even these letters," says Mumbai-based ventriloquist Deepak Pandey.

Voice over. Voice modulation is equally important. "In order to be an effective vent, developing two voices–one, your own and the other, that of your muppet–is essential," says Udipi-based ventriloquist Prahlad Acharya. It is important that the voices be distinct, so that the listeners know your natural voice and are also able to easily recognise the second tone that you use for the puppet.

"It’s not just the ability to modulate your voice, but to be able to do so quickly that counts," says Vachha. The idea is to ensure a fluid conversation with the puppet; there should be no lull between exchanges. So, make sure you learn to switch voices as fast as you think up wisecracks.

Tips for dummies. "Hey, stop putting words in my mouth," goes one of the oldest ventriloquism jokes in the book, and that’s exactly what you will be doing as you learn to operate a dummy. But you have to learn puppetry as well. Making the dummy talk, nod or gesticulate in tandem with the conversation is what adds to the illusion and makes your dummy come alive. Usually, vents create a distinct identity for their puppets, giving it its own mannerisms and pet jokes. So the vent is able to slip into his dummy’s personality as easily as his own.

Muppets are usually made of fur, latex, wood, or vinyl, and costs vary depending on the material used and how complicated its movements are.

"The latex ones are the best since they are the most life-like," says Mumbai-based vent Ramdas Padhye. While locally made muppets cost between Rs 4,000 and Rs 30,000, imported ones start at $150 and can go up to $8,000 for the handmade wooden ones, according to Chennai-based ventriloquist P. Venkatesh.

Venkatesh advises vents to work with muppets that have a single movement rather than one with complex multiple moves. That way, the novice can concentrate on voice modulation and on coordinating the single muppet movement with the words. As your puppetry skills improve and voice modulation itself gets almost automatic, you can move on to the more complex dummies.

Finally, that’s what it’s all about: learning how to synchronise your muppet’s moves with your voice. If you goof up on this, the effect will be as disastrous as a Tamil film badly dubbed in Hindi. Fortunately, unlike films, you don’t need to acquire a host of special talents to become a vent, but you definitely need to work on it to become skilled. "It is an exotic art and requires patience, perseverance and practice," points out Venkatesh. "While it takes only six months to learn the trick, it’ll take about three to four years to acquire the art."

Walk the talk. The key lies in regular practice. "Even with 34 years of ventriloquism behind me, I practise for at least 15 minutes every day," says Padhye. For beginners, the routine is more rigorous. According to Acharya, daily practice sessions should ideally be for two to three hours. If you cannot spare that much time, at least an hour a day is a must. As Vachha says: "Consider it akin to the daily riyaz that is so imperative for a classical singer."

But if time is of the essence, age is not. You are never too old to take up ventriloquism. "In fact, older people realise how it can be used to give vent to their inner feelings, which they otherwise find difficult to articulate and communicate,"says Venkatesh.

Foram Shah, Mumbai-based pre-school teacher, uses ventriloquism as a teaching aid. "The concentration span of three-year-olds does not even last a complete story-telling session, but when my frog tells them the story, they are riveted," she says.

Whether for love, money or therapy, throwing your voice around can be a rewarding exercise. Hey, if dummies can do it, so can you.

With Archana Rai in Bangalore,
Vatsala Kamat in Chennai and
Nikhil Mookerji in Kolkata

Deccan Herald: Prahlad does houdini with Udupi chariot

2001-09-02T03:30:00.000-07:00

DH News Service

UDUPI, Aug 31: Mr Prahlad Acharya, the well-known Indian Houdini, proved his mettle by making the world famous Udupi Sri Krishnamath golden chariot which is valued at more than 1.5 crore, disappear for several seconds.

He performed this trick before a large gathering including Pejawar Math seer Sri Vishweshshateertha swamiji, Sri Vishwaprasannateertha, Sri Lakshmivarateertha and Bananje Sri Raghavendrateertha.

The stage was set-up in front of the golden chariot near the Kanakana kindi. He had challenged earlier that he would make the golden chariot disappear and make it appear within 5 minutes without any changes in the position or in the form.

Mr Acharya counted one, two and three and the chariot disappeared for few moments into the bright light which hit the diaz, astonishing the participants.

Deccan Herald's photo of Prahlad Acharya taken moments before vanishing the 1.5 crore worth golden chariot of Sri Krishna Mutt, Udupi available here

-- Appeared in the Deccan Herald on September 01, 2001.