Vazhakunnam

Vazhakunnam Neelakandan Namboothiri
Born: February 8, 1903(1903-02-08)
Thiruvegappura, Pattambi, Kerala
Died: February 09, 1983

Occupation: Magician, Illusionist
Religious beliefs: Hindu
Spouse: K C Anujathi Thampuratty
Children: K C Aravindakshan Raja, K C Thulasidas Raja, K C Sumathy

Vazhakunnam mana. Vazhakunnam Neelakandan Namboothiri or Prof. Vazhakkunnam(February 8, 1903 - February 09, 1983) is known as the Grand Father of Kerala's Magic. He gave a new meaning to magic in Kerala. He is praised as the patriarch of magic in the State. He played an important role in bringing Magic as an Art. For more than half a century, he had kept the onlookers spellbound in spite of his extreme simplicity, and devoid of any elaborate stage and costume. `Prof. Vazhakkunnam, born in an orthodox Namboodiri `illam' at Thiruvegappura, near Pattambi, is considered to be the `guru' of magic by contemporary magicians like Gopinath Muthukad.

Biography

He was born on Makeeram star on 26 Makaram, 1078 (08-02-1903) in Vaazhakunnath Mana near Thiruvegappura, Pattambi, to Raman Atithiripad and Narippatta (Karalmanna) Mahal, Arya Pathanaadi as the fourth son. Raman Atithiripad, popularly known as Vaazhakunnam Ateeri was famous for his wits.After "Othu" (committing Vedam to memory), he learned Sanskrit at Guruvayur from his brother, Vasudevan Nambudiri (scholar and expert on discourse), and English from Pattambi Narayana Iyer.

Though he had a yearning earlier to learn magic after having watched some tricks shown in his Illam by one Mundaya Eachara Varier, his stay at Guruvayur kindled in him tremendous interest about elephants and studied "Maathangaleela" under an expert, Kochunni Thampuran of the Kodungallur royalty. While there, he happened to watch "Cheppadividya" [tricks using Cheppu (cups) and Panthu (balls)] performed by Pallatheri Nambyathan Namboodiri (vide 2, below) an expert and scholar by any standard, and his interest in magic was re-kindled. With the permission of his master, he switched to learning Jaalavidya under this Pallatheri.

Vaazhakunnam later became famous for Kayyothukkam, although occasionally he performed also "Cheppum Panthum" (cups and balls) to small family gatherings. Gradually he mastered other modern magic tricks also. He learned "bullet" tricks from the renowned magician Bekkar of Alappuzha and taught him Cheppum Panthum in return - as Guru Dakshina. He became adept in card tricks from Alli Kittan (Alli Krishna Iyer). He used to put all his little gadgets in a bag when he visited Illams and Kovilakams, and if pressed upon, would show a few items, particularly those based on Kayyothukkam, always captivating the on-lookers. Once in a while, depending on the audience, he would show the "bullet", "tying upon the cross", "guillotine" and other technology-oriented tricks. Though he did not consider hypnotism and mesmerism as part of pure magic, there were occasions when he had to do such tricks under pressure. He was famous for his disappearing act (Mooti Vidya). There were many instances where, after performing a trick, he would even show how it is done, saying that with practice, anyone could do it; such was his humility.

It was after 1940 that he started real stage performances with his troupe. Apart from magic, the shows included short dance programmes, comedy skits, etc. With him was Paryanampatta (Kunchunny Nambudiripad) who was already a well-known actor and Vaazhakunnam's disciple in magic. After 1948, he modified his shows including costumes. He would start with a two-line prayer (his own creation) and a Gandhi Sthuthi, being a true Gandhian. He would start from very simple tricks and proceed to more complicated ones. He was unmatched in "producing" any number and almost any size of different articles apparently from nothing.

At some point, he and P C Sircar (Jr) met, and ever since they had tremendous mutual respect. In his old age, Sircar visited him at home and gave him a cycle rickshaw and in return received a sword. Most later magicians considered it fortunate to be Vaazhakunnam's student. Apart from Paryanampatta, those trained by him include the late Manjeri Ali Khan, Prof: Muthukad, R K Malayath, Joy Oliver, K P Krishnan Bhattathiripad, Kuttiyadi Nanu, K S Manoharan, K J Nair, Vadakkeppad Parameswaran, Raghavan, his own sons and others.

According to Prof. Muthukad, all the contemporary magicians, are indebted to Prof. Vazhakunnam for his efforts to bring the magic show from the streets to the public stage.

Personal life

He had married K C Anujathi Thampuratty of Kottakkal Kovilakam (d: 1980) and have two sons and a daughter. The elder son, late K C Aravindakshan Raja (d: 1998) was a magician, while his brother, K C Thulasidas Raja, though a high school teacher, is known as Junior Vaazhakunnam and has been staging magic performances. Vaazhakunnam's daughter K C Sumathy is married to the writer-poet P M Narayanan (Panjavur Mana).

The only time he could not keep an appointment on stage was in 1983 at Kasargod, but that was because on the 9th of February that year he disappeared for ever from the magic (and real) world!. His Contribution towards Magic is written in golden letters.

Documentary on Vazhakkunnam

The 12-minute `Manthrika Muthachan,' presented by Muthukad's Magic Academy that was screened at the Press Club on February 09, 2007, captures the life and the art practised by the legendary magician.

The docu-fiction tracks the transformation of a boy, enthralled by the sleight of hand of a magician who had performed at the `illam' into a magician of versatility. Prof. Vazhakkunnam's six-decade long devotion to magic is highlighted through narratives and visuals. The work shows how the magician captivated children with his chalices with unbelievable dexterity. The script of the docu-fiction, written by Sreekanth Kottakkal, is narrated by Aliyar.

Magic General: Magic • Timeline • Terms • Manufacturers • List of magicians • Mentalists • Assistants • Exposure • List of magic tricks • Tarbell Course • Sleight of hand • Magic club • Magic conventions • Equivocation (magic) • Misdirection • Magic Allied Arts

Types: Card magic • Gospel Magic • Torah Magic • Micromagic • Platform magic • Parlor magic • Children's magic • Street magic • Theatrical Séances • Escape magic • Coin magic • Mental magic • Bizarre magic • Stage illusions • Mathemagic

Magic organizations: Society of American Magicians • International Brotherhood of Magicians • Society of Young Magicians • The Magic Circle • American Museum of Magic • Houdini Museum • Academy of Magical Arts • Canadian Association of Magicians • Young Magicians' Club • Fédération Internationale des Sociétés Magiques • College of Magic • Conjuring Arts Research Center • Magic Youth International

Stage illusions Aquarian Illusion • Asrah levitation • Assistant's Revenge • Aztec Lady • Battle of the Barrels • Bowl-A-Rama • Bullet catch • David Copperfield's laser illusion • Chen Lee water suspension • Dagger head box • Devil's torture chamber • Guillotine • Impalement • Indian rope trick • Interlude • Metamorphosis • Mismade Girl • Origami • Quick-change • Radium Girl • Sands of the Nile • Sawing a woman in half • Table of death • Twister • Wringer • Zig Zag Girl

Platform magic Needle-through-arm • Vanishing bird cage • Chinese linking rings • Bill in lemon

Close-up magic The Best Coin Fold • Cups and balls • Balducci levitation • Ambitious card • Card warp • Floating match on card • French drop • Palming • Retention of vision vanish • Scotch and Soda • Square Circle Production • Detachable thumb • Thumb tip • Glorpy • Healed and sealed • Zarrow shuffle • Charlier Cut • The Pass • Card marking • Sleight of hand • Trick deck • Cardistry • Card throwing • Si Stebbins • Card manipulation • Shuffling • Playing card

Levitations Asrah levitation • Balducci levitation • Elevator levitation • Hummer card • King levitation • Sooperman • Super chair suspension • David Copperfield's flying illusion

Mentalism Billet reading • Muscle reading • Spoon bending • Book test • Telekinesis • ESP • Telepathy • Precognition • Mind-reading • Neuro-linguistic programming • Parapsychology • Psychic • Hot reading • Cold reading • Warm reading • Fortune tellers • Mediums • Forer effect • Kinesics • Divination • Clairvoyance • Confirmation bias • True-believer syndrome • Psi

Escapology Cabinet escape • Handcuffs • Straitjacket • Chinese Water Torture Cell • Lock-picking • Stunt performer • Predicament escape

Historical magicians Magi: Harry Houdini • Harry Kellar • Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin • Tony Slydini • Howard Thurston • Dai Vernon • John Nevil Maskelyne • Doug Henning • Alexander Herrmann • Harry Blackstone, Sr. • Charles Joseph Carter • Alexander • Theodore Annemann • Kuda Bux • Corinda • Joseph Dunninger • Al Koran • Br. John Hamman • J.B. Bobo • Herb Zarrow
Magicians around the world: Indian magicians