For a spell of legacy

PC Sorcar’s classic illusions got a fresh lease of life in the hands of his son and grand-son

Karnataka : Bengaluru : 04/11/2018 : P C Sorcar young master team performing Magic show at Town Hall in Bengaluru from November 1st to November 11th two shows for day its scheduled as a 4pm and 7pm. Photo : Sudhakara Jain / The Hindu.

Magic always brings to mind Mandrake the magician who would “gesture hypnotically” and make all manner of low lives see illusions in his crimebuster avatar. Mandrake, regarded by comic historians as the first superhero, was published by Indrajal comics in India. By happy coincidence, magician PC Sorcar’s troupe is called Indrajal.

Sorcar became popular in the 1930s and performed all over the world till his death in Japan of a heart attack in 1971. His sons and grandchildren have taken forward his legacy. And so it was with an anticipatory thrill that we sat down on Saturday afternoon at Town Hall amongst jostling children to watch Sorcar’s son and grandson (Young and Master) take the stage.

Karnataka : Bengaluru : 04/11/2018 : P C Sorcar young master team performing Magic show at Town Hall in Bengaluru from November 1st to November 11th two shows for day its scheduled as a 4pm and 7pm. Photo : Sudhakara Jain / The Hindu.

Pouroosh, a third-generation Sorcar, (he is called PC Sorcar, Master) kept the audience engaged with his grandfather’s classic illusions from Water of India where a pot of water never runs out, levitating ladies from the land of the Nile to vanishing birds and flowers appearing out of nowhere. His father, PC Sorcar Young, performed the X-Ray Eyes trick where he solved mathematical problems and drew blindfolded.

Pouroosh said while his grandfather was known for the grand illusions, he also created several small tricks. He went on to demonstrate one of these, as he poured a jug of milk into a paper cone only to unfurl it to reveal a dry sheet of paper. The last trick brought to mind Christopher Nolan’s The Prestige where Pouroosh vanished from stage only to appear among the audience.

Karnataka : Bengaluru : 04/11/2018 : P C Sorcar young master team performing Magic show at Town Hall in Bengaluru from November 1st to November 11th two shows for day its scheduled as a 4pm and 7pm. Photo : Sudhakara Jain / The Hindu.

While keeping to the classic format, the show could be rejigged to give it a contemporary feel. Pouroosh’s fondness for rock music (he is a drummer) came through in the choice of music. While screens are definitely getting smaller, and you can find out how the tricks are done online, the way the audience were engrossed in the show proved that magic still has the ability for shock and awe.

The shows are at Town Hall, JC Road on November 6,8,10 and 11 at 4 and 7 pm. Tickets are available on bookmyshow.com