From the simple rope trick of the past to the complicated wizardry of the present, the art of magic has come a long way. But so gripping is its charm that even today a simple sleight of hand never ceases to amaze us. Whether it’s for enchanting a large audience or creating ripples in small family gatherings, magicians have always been sought after.

Meet the magicians
Meet KS Ramesh, a self-taught, flamboyant magician. His showmanship and style on stage have fetched him many roles in regional and Bollywood films and have made him a household name in the city. Ramesh is also the founder of Magic Academy, an institute that instils the love of magic among the gen-next.

Hailed by the media as the “Indian Houdini” for his death-defying tricks, Prahlad Acharya has been entertaining audiences with his magical extravaganza called “Maya Jadoo”. He is also an expert in ventriloquism and shadow-play. He can be reached at 9880191969 or mayajadoo@yahoo.com. You can also log on to www.mayajadoo.com for more information.

Nakul Shenoy does mind-reading acts and is among the few who excels in psychic entertainment. His show “Beyond Magic” has been wowing corporate audiences for some time now. Exploring the uncanny and the unusual through predictions, metal bending and memory power is his forte. Dial him at 9986012013 or send a mail to beyondmagic@gmail.com if you need his service. His website http://www.nakulshenoy.com will help you if you seek more information.

Party performers
Besides these three magicians, there are quite a few others who are the pied pipers of small family gatherings.

• Chandrashekar (Magic Chan, 9972046434)
• Sanjay Balsawar (for close-up magic, 9844053758)
• AK Dutt (93412 33544)
• Master Karun Krishna (9845163648)

Of magic wand and more
Magic in our country is mostly a self-taught art but there are a few institutes in the city, such as, Karnataka Magic Academy, that offers courses in magic. And if you want to pick up magic paraphernalia, Uday’s Magic World and Karnataka Magic Academy Trust are places to head to.

Conjure up that special moment of fun … with a little help from the city magicians!