Magic for a Reason :)

I had interviewed Magician Akash P.R.  for the magazine Megarth - which showcases Social Leaders and Organizations, Individuals and Businesses that create exponential Social Change - here it is:

What is your definition of passion and when did you discover that magic is your passion?

Passion means madness to me, you keep thinking about it all the time, no matter where you are, what you are doing. You are unconsciously always thinking about it and drawing connections from your normal life, daily routine to that one thing that means the most to you – your passion! I discovered my passion or rather say realized my love for magic when I was in 5^th standard (approx). Everybody has witnessed some kind of magic as a kid even if not by a professional magician. Sometimes adults try to fool kids by telling them the reason for something rational that they can understand by telling them that its magic. That was beginning when a child is not taken in by the lies adults and the society around us tries to cook up. When you are not taken in by such lies you develop rationality after knowing how things works , you are ready to use the ability to create myth and illusion on your command and use it to entertain people. That is how I discovered my passion for magic. 

Whenever you go up on stage to perform, what are your thoughts before performing?

I only think about my act, how I am going to do it. I just concentrate on my performance. My mind is clean of any other thoughts except my next act. My support staff takes care of the rest.

Magic is one passion that energizes you, but what are other hobbies or activities you are involved in that keeps you happy?

Sketching is one hobby that has been a constant part of my life along with magic. I also paint and carve, modern art being my area of interest. Humming songs in my free time also keeps me energized and going.

There might be ups and downs in the pursuit of your passion but what keeps you motivated to move forward?

When a rough/low point comes in the pursuit of your passion, you sometimes feel like giving it all up and moving ahead with your life, with a lot less tension. But then because it is your passion, and you cannot stay away from it you come back to it and start working ways out. Sometimes when an act goes wrong due to some problem in stage, props, or human fault, after getting frustrated and saddened by it you come back and try to repair, fix or reduce chances of faults happening. You can never let go off your passion.

What is your source of inspiration for magic?

All creative people who have struggled hard and made a name for themselves be it in – singing, dancing, acting or magic, etc – they all inspire me. I love reading about them and there struggle for surviving against all odds inspires me to keep going.

Magic has an entertainment value but can this be used for any other purpose like spreading a social message?

Yes surely. Magic shows can be customized to suit any social cause and spread a message through such magic shows. We also have an organization MFR – Magic for a Reason which solely works for giving magic a human touch. We wish to impart social messages and uplift the society and remove the taboo associated with magic as black magic and not as a performing art.

Please share your thoughts about the perspective towards this form of art and its future.

Magic is an art form which needs no language to convey an idea to the audience. Magic has a universal language which everybody understands and everyone wants to see. But a lot of people still believe in black magic and don’t consider it an art form. We need to work on eradicating this idea from the masses.

The future looks bright for magic and if in India it gets the much needed government support and government gives it the status of a performing art. Only then it is possible that research and development in the field of magic will happen and it would be able to regain its lost glory in India once again!

**Diwali Mela**

LSR came alive with vibrant colours and festivity on 1^st November, 2010. The shift from the boring classes to jubilant exultation, was to celebrate the festival of lights i.e. diwali. The traditional festival of lights with its significant message of victory of good over evil was celebrated with great pomp and show. Every year the celebration is earmarked by a small diwali mela organized by the NSS (National Social Service Organization) of LSR.

The mela was a happy affair with its assortment of food, games, accessories and the like. The presence of Rajasthan dancer’s, Punjabi dhol and a street play group left nothing else to be desired for. The festive mood was in full swing with every stall thronged by girls dancing either to the tune of Punjabi pop or Eminem rap. Apart from the stall’s set up by the NGO’s under the NSS, the different societies of LSR had also set up their respective stalls.

Entretia, the e- cell of LSR had also set up a stall at the diwali mela. Our stall was placed conveniently in the mela so as to capture more eyeballs, sell more products and hence earn more profit. The item’s exhibited for sale at our stall were cool flat chappals, assorted candies’, cloth bags, eco-friendly and multipurpose vase and customized posters. This was not all as there was also a betting game which required the individual to complete the task without tearing the paper given to the individual. Every member of the e-cell contributed in the successful sale of the items in the stall in their own way. For instance, some had taken up the duty of taking charge of the stall and persuading the customer’s into buying the items for sale at the diwali mela. The items were sold at “customer pocket friendly prices” like one pair of chappals for 130 rupees, bag for 165 rupees, and vase for 15 rupees and so on. This was the primary reason for the voluminous sale of our items at the diwali mela.

This effective pricing strategy helped us in earning profit and increasing the immensity of this festivity. The success of the event should also be attributed to all the members of the e-cell who volunteered and worked as a team under the praiseworthy leadership of the e-cell coordinator’s Smriti and Swati.