[www.keralites.net] ::::: M Y D O T S ::::: Gopinath Muthukad

Sunday 22 January 2012

[www.keralites.net] ::::: M Y D O T S ::::: Gopinath Muthukad

Gopinath Muthukad

Gopinath Muthukad is a magician, escapologist, and stunt performer from Kerala, India. He employs magic as a medium to convey his messages to society. He was born on April 10, 1964 as the youngest son of Kunjunni Nair and Devaki Amma in Kavalamukkatta village near Nilambur. His passion for magic was so intense that he discontinued his lawyer's course to take up magic as a career.

Muthukad founded the first magic academy of Asia at Thiruvananthapuram. He won the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy award in 1995. He is also a winner of the International Merlin Award instituted by the International Magicians' Society.

Magician hails from the agrarian ambience of Nilambur, a village in the Malappuram District of Kerala. Recently he has been selected for the Merlin Award, considered the Oscar in magic, by the world's largest US based magicians' organisation, International Magicians' Society.

Muthukad has a unique motto, 'Magic with a Mission'. Upholding this motto, he has been using magic as a successful tool to spread virtuous ideals among masses. Four national voyages he has undertaken include, Vismaya Bharatha Yathra (15th Aug. to 31st Oct. 2002,) Gandhi Mantra (2nd Oct. to 26th Jan. 05),Vismaya Swaraj Yatra (2nd of Oct 2007 to 3oth of Nov 2007) and his latest voyage is Mission India (2nd Oct 2010 to 30th Nov 2010). The Vismaya Bharatha Yatra was to foster the sense of national integration from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, covering a distance of 22,500 km by road through 22 States in India. The Gandhi Matra journey was to distribute seven prominent messages of Mahatma Gandhi in 22 States and one Union Territory. The distance traversed was 34,500 km. Gandhi Mantra's worthiness was furthered owing to its foreign stages in countries including UK, France, U.A.E., Qatar, Oman, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Maldives. His mission continued towards the heart of India. His next magical journey Vismay Swaraj Yatra, was supported by Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan and the Ministry of Defence. As part of this the magical entourage led by magician Muthukad has traveled through the topographical extremities of the Nation by a bus and a lorry. They have staged magical tributes to great martyrs of the 1857 first war of Indian independence. Teachings on the lives and messages of martyrs, Bhagat Singh, Mangal Pandey, Tantia Tope and Birsa Munda were taught through these magic shows. Finally he expanded his thoughts against country's terrorism and violence in the name of Mission India and carried his messages all over India. Mission India is a 60 days magical voyage with the support of Ministry of Defence to abrogate terrorism and violence.The mission marked a poignant curtain raiser on the terrace of Taj Hotel, Mumbai.

He has successfully completed Vismay Swaraj Yatra, a journey from Kashmir to Kanyakumari with magic shows reliving the rousing stories of India's freedom struggle from 1857 to 1947. Lives and messages of freedom fighters including Mangal Pandey, Bhagat Singh and Tantia Tope were staged all over India travelling a distance of 24500 kilometers along the geographical, cultural and linguistic diversities of the great Indian sub continent.

It was at 11a.m. on 5 November 2007 that Magician Muthukad and his team set a world record by performing the Indo-China friendship magic show at Nathu La Sikkim, a historic trade corridor 14,400 feet high in the Himalayas. The magic team set this record after battling climatic challenges of low pressure, deficient oxygen and freezing temperatures. His performances have earned him admiration from national leaders of India, including President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh.

Magic Academy, described widely as the first of its kind in Asia, is established and run by him in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala. The Magic Academy Research Centre (MARC), the only centre of excellence in magical art, is situated in the government owned KINFRA Film and Video Park away from the hustle and bustle of the city. If Magic Academy is abode to many a number of modern magic, MARC is famous as a home to heritage magic of India including the Great Indian Rope Trick, the Green Mango Trick, Cups and Balls, Indian Basket and several innovative street magic routines.

His inclination towards innovation and showmanship has transformed him into an icon of imaginative magic. His readiness to break the conventional glass seal to come down from the ivory towers of popularity to use magic as a means for social service has also earned him the unique title: 'Man of Magic'. It was this quality that has prompted him to do more charity work while celebrating the 30th anniversary of his magical career. His boldness to hand down his magical knowledge to discerning youngsters is yet another quality that has gifted him an admirable image - of course one major quality that has also turned a section of his conservationist counterparts envious.

Let us go back to my Drawing Board………