Changing tricks to sustain the age-old art of magic

Gurvinder Singh

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Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, January 10

Think of a typical Indian magic show, the images of a pigeon coming out of hat, and tricks of playing cards conjure up in mind. But to survive in this rapidly changing entertainment industry, which has to compete with several other newer industries including internet, computer games and virtual reality games, adapting to change and adopting new methods, while doing away with the tradition is the key.

“Now-a-days, magic tricks are no secret with several internet videos readily available for the viewers. It has now come down to presentation and creating big illusions that give the thrill the viewers,” says magician OP Sharma Junior, whose magic show is on in the city these days, says. He said the traditional old garb of a magician and old magic tricks that used to tickle the audience for decades no longer work, so they need to create grand sights to entertain the audience.

“Magic is never going to lose its relevance for the inherent thrill and suspense involved in it. So if you compare it with other forms of entertainment, the live magic show still retains the charm of entertainment,” he says. “But moving with the times, we have worked from technical as well as conceptual innovations,” he says.

“For example rather than traditional lighting, now all the lighting is al computerised. All the shows, dances are based on the themes,” he says. Now big spectacles and grand scenes give the thrill. “For example, for the young audience we make the dinosaur appear to be alive. We make the Statue of Liberty disappear,” he said.

Likewise, several cartoon characters also entertain the young audience, he added.