Poornima Prahlad - a Woman Magician in Her Own Right

With inputs from Sharad Raj and pics by Ganesh S Perla
for Daijiworld News Network - Mangalore (MB)

Udupi, December 25, 2006

"Don’t believe in witchcraft and tantriks who cheat people using magic tricks, but take magic as a mere medium of entertainment," says Poornima Prahlad...

Poornima Prahlad is a magician who gives illusion an innovative, humorous touch. Her different approach is  popularly known as Charlie Chaplin act.

As the world is inclined towards the serious side of life, she wants the people and children to take their seats in a live, mysterious, though enjoyable, kind of a humorous journey.

Poornima is the wife of Prahlad Acharya,  a magican who has become popular with his Houdini Escape,  Jail Escape and other variations of escape, and who can be deservingly called the Indian Houdini.

He was also the one to perform the legendary Indian Rope Trick in Swedish Embassy, Delhi in  March 2002. In this trick, the rope lies on the ground and when the magician plays the 'been' instrument like a snake-charmer,  the rope rises from the ground and stands stiff towards the sky, and the magician climbs on the stiff rope. History has different versions of this magic having been performed by the Indian fakirs of the past, but for now Prahlad the magician is the practitioner of this art.

Poornima Prahlad presenting one of her magic acts

Daijiworld caught up with the charming spouse of this magician - Poornima Prahlad, who herself is a rising star on the horizon of the world of magic.

Who is the inspiration for you to be a magician?

My husband Prahlad Acharya was the person who noticed my taste for acting and told me to try my hand at magic.

Do you perform conjuring acts like card manipulation?

No, it needs a very good practice and the chances of magic getting revealed or detected are higher in conjuring. Conjuring cannot be performed to a large group of audience.

Do you perform table-top magic or street magic?

No, I don’t have much idea of the table-top magic and street magic, but Illusion is the field which interests me.

Why do you like Illusions? 

We can give social awareness messages to the people like AIDS awareness and messages to eradicate social evils which can reach out to a larger audience.

What are your present plans?
 
Currently,  we are performing shows on contract for 2 years promoting MTR home products all over the state and have plans to cover Kerela, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. There are chances of extension of the contract duration.

Have you performed at any magic conventions?

No, but I have future plans to perform at conventions.

How can you define your husband in the field?

My husband took magic as a profession after completing his LLB in Udupi. He is a self-taught magician, a ventriloquist, shadow-play performer, and a friendly husband who is the root-cause for my career in Magic.

What is the idea behind performing Charlie Chaplin Illusion act?

My husband gave the idea of Charlie Chaplin Illusion act, which is a new way of entertaining the public with humour.

What is the reason for Prahlad's not performing the illusion of making the St Mary’s Isles near Malpe vanish as promised and which is awaited by the public from two ye