Illusionist Gopinath Muthukad is the second Indian ever to win the International Merlin Award after magician PC Sorcar junior. The honour is the magicians' 'Oscar'
Illusionist Gopinath Muthukad is the second Indian ever to win the International Merlin Award after magician PC Sorcar junior. The honour is the magicians' 'Oscar'On June 23, the US-based International Magicians' Society (IMS) will confer the International Merlin Award to Kerala's Gopinath Muthukad for excellence in traditional and new-age magic in Washington DC. The International Magicians Society has over 37,000 members. The awards ceremony in the capital of United States on June 23 will be attended by hundreds of magicians from across the world who will perform colourful traditional and new-age magic, said a statement issued here Saturday.
Tony Hassini, the president of the International Magicians' Society, will present the award to Muthukad, In his commendation letter to Muthukad Hassini, said, "No one knows more than your peers the hard work and dedicatio,n that you have given to magic."
It's no hocus-pocus, Muthukad's achievements in his 35 years as a magician include setting up Asia's first Magic Academy in Kerala in 1996, organising a series of international magic conventions titled, Vismayam, innovation in magical demonstrations, re-enactments of several Houdini stunts and magical sensitisation campaigns across the country to foster social values and Gandhian philosophy.
With the award, Muthukad will be elevated to the ranks of David Copperfield and Criss Angel. The award comprises a statuette designed by Carol Michaud in 1968. Muthukad reacted to the news saying, "It is an honour to the art of magic and its strong traditions of our country. This will definitely add to the popularity of the art and lure more young talents to take it up and spread sublime messages for the masses."u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0
