Features: Magazine | Literary Review | Life | Metro Plus | Open Page | Education Plus | Book Review | Business | SciTech | Friday Review | Young World | Property Plus | Quest | Folio |

Magic makes his world go round

Young Bibin Kannampalackal has cast a spell with his magic shows across Europe

PHOTO: MAHESH HARILAL

ABRACADABRA Bibin Kannampalackal is wowing audiences across Europe with his magical feats.

Now you have me, now you don't. Well, such hocus-pocus will make your eyeballs pop out, if you watch young magician Bibin Kannampalackal in action.

This 17-year-old from Ramapuram in Kottayam district has cast his spell across Europe and in his present hometown of Cologne, Germany.

With over 300 shows to his credit Bibin juggles effortlessly between studies and performing magic shows. Says the talented teenager, "Weekends are set aside for travelling across Europe and performing shows while weekdays are for studies." And how did he begin this magical journey?

He recalls that as an eight-year-old he performed for the first time back home in Kattapana.

"I performed the Great Fire Escape Act when I was in third grade at Kattapana Infant Jesus School." Bibin claims to be the third magician in India and the first child in the world to perform this act.

Tricks of the trade

It was one summer vacation that changed the course of Bibin's life. On the last leg of his journey from Germany, after visiting his parents, Bibin was amazed with the coin tricks of his co-passenger on board. "I was thrilled to see my co-passenger perform a few coin tricks and enjoyed the activity. I tried to perform like he did. The way I moved my fingers impressed him," says Bibin. As fate would have it this gentleman was none other than the famous magician P.M. Mithra. Soon Bibin became his student. He also learnt the tricks of the trade from Nilambur Sethumathevan, Thomas Chennadu, Hasim Calicut and Shibu Prabhu. Bibin confesses about his initial fears on learning the art of Fire escape act from P.M Mithra but also of mastering it later on and performing it with great daredevilry. By the age of 11 Bibin had moved on to a higher level of magic and could ride a scooter blind-folded.

It was in 2005 when he hit another landmark in his magical journey. He performed levitation in Europe. Speaking of levitation, Bibin says with pride, "It took a lot of practice to do this act and I am continuing to practise it. Levitation is a difficult item to perform and people get frightened when they see me floating in the air. I am able to do this only for 30 seconds. I believe, I am the youngest person in the world to perform this magic."

Limelight

Performing magic shows both in India and in Europe has Bibin comparing the audience response.

"It is difficult to make people in India believe what we do. But, in Germany, I observe that people like more illusion and they enjoy it to the core."

Living in Germany has helped him improve his magic by taking regular lessons on Sundays; attending workshops and seminars on magic. Learning from books is not his choice. "In the West, I have learnt magic from well known magicians like Dirk Loasander, Christian Knudsen, Pavel and Ted Lesly."

And is it magic that's going to be his main vocation. No, Bibin has plans of doing a hotel management course and working in the catering field. "I am passionate about cooking Indian and German food." Besides, just like a young teenager he loves chatting on the Net and has a fan following whenever he reveals his magical side to them.

With full family support from his sisters, Babitha and Anitha and his parents, Joseph and Lilly Bibin has still got lots of magic up his sleeve.

RESMI JAIMON

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail