Conventional vs Modernity

Even the most sceptic person would tend to believe in magic. And there lies the charm of this spellbinding trick. It make-believe things, more than what our brain tells us. The world of magic has changed a lot in the last one or two decades but some magicians still follow the traditional route and amuse people around the country. Mayan Vaidar Shah, who has been in the field of magic for the past 40 years, is one of the senior magicians in the country.  He is among the very few people who still perform the most popular trick Cheppum Panthum in Kerala, Mayan claims Cheppum Panthum (cups and balls) is a traditional trick performed by street magicians all over the world. But Mayan has developed his own style and still amuses the crowds with it.

 “The trick requires rudimentary knowledge but it takes a lot of experience to master it. Its straightforward yet spontaneous nature makes it the toughest among many popular tricks,” says Mayan.  Winner of several national awards, he is the first Indian to receive the prestigious Merlin Medal, which is considered the Oscar of magicians. He won the award for his version of Cheppum Panthum in an international event held in Hyderabad, in 2014.   Mayan laments the invasion of technology eats into the authenticity and beauty of magic. “With the arrival of new equipment and technology, the art has become just a show.  I cannot find anything magical in it and I am not a fan of it.”  

Mayan Vaidar Shah, who also teaches magic says, after the invention of online video sharing platforms like Youtube, kids tend to rely on it for learning magic. It is good to polish your skills but you cannot compare a real teacher with these online tutorials. I know many kids who started off using the online classes finding it difficult with their skills. The rapport with an actual teacher can do a lot of things. They are missing it,” he adds. The 63-year-old veteran, while admitting that the standard of magic and magicians has grown by leaps and bounds, says there is much to do to compete with Europeans and Americans. Adherence to improvised tricks makes the difference.

“They still stick on to many traditional tricks and improvise them with the help of modern technology. But here a lot of magicians tend to depend on technology alone. We must not forget the age-old traditional street magic tricks that belongs to us. We need to strike a balance between the conventional and modernity.” Mayan Vaidar Shah’s family is so fond of the art. His two daughters might amaze you performing tricks that they learned from their father.  “They are not full-time magicians but learned a lot from me, they opted for other career options and I cannot insist them, which is also not right,” he added. The founder president and patron of Malayali Magicians Association is preparing for a forthcoming international event in Hyderabad next month.