Magicians take a backseat as mentalists rule the roost

Hark back to one’s childhood and the idea of a magician brings a nostalgic image to the mind: a cloaked figure, sometimes with a hat or turban (Jadugar Anand fans can attest to this) and doing wonderous acts like cutting women into half or pulling assorted items out of their headgear. Over the years, many have come and gone, performing to sold-out auditoriums with cheering school students and families gazing misty-eyed at them. 

But today? With an entire generation of youngsters having grown up on Harry Potter fandom and David Blane/Criss Angel YouTube videos online, traditional magic performances are almost existent nowadays save the random act in a travelling circus from time to time. 

In recent times, however, the genre has been making a heady comeback in metros all over India, including Chennai, with these new-age performers catering to the likes of private birthday parties, corporates and high-end brand launches. The difference? They are called mentalists. 

“Mentalists are extremely different from magicians. People are bored of the old acts, and are looking for something new having been influenced by the changing world around them. I’ve been in the profession for 17 years – I was a magician earlier, but now focus on mentalism and hypnosis,” said veteran performer Gopal. 

Unlike the gaudy coats and colourful accessories of yesteryear, these gentlemen are impeccably dressed in crisp suits, work with no props at all, and are inspired heavily from the west. 

“Mentalism works entirely with one’s mind and body language, and the idea is for us to decipher information from the audience. In today’s time, young professionals easily get stressed out and are constantly looking for ways to engage their mind. This is where we come in. We spend an hour or so at offices, and by the end of the act, they feel refreshed emotionally,” Gopal said. 

In fact, another of Chennai’s rising names in the field, Narpath, was a mechanical engineer who joined a software firm, only to change track as a management consultant – finally quitting his job to become a mentalist.

“People think it’s akin to mind-reading, but our act is only us giving the impression that we can. Practise is absolutely essential – in fact, its all I do – reading books, watching videos, all the time. Being a mentalist is an interactive experience: we guess ATM pins, unlock audience members’ phones, reveal names of ex-girlfriends, and so on,” he says.

Narpath, who is now set to represent the city on the reality show India’s Got Talent later this month, adds that Chennai has a lot of potential for the genre – and in 10 years, mentalism could be as popular as stand-up comedy. “I’m confident that will happen. It is a viable career choice for youngsters, though initially some patience is required.”