May 12: A magic show must be the only place in the world where you pay to be deceived, and feel cheated if you are not. But one magician is not content with just befuddling the overawed watcher.

The president of IAM - India (International Academy of Magic), Satish Deshmukh's bag of tricks is overflowing with yet another innovative concept: the use of magic as therapy.

Magic and therapy? While it may sound esoteric and implausible, the underlying logic is rational enough. The reasoning is any magic performance needs confidence, a sense of timing, fluidity of body movements, group coordination, creative thinking and rhetorical prowess to dazzle the audience. ``These are the very abilities needed to edge you ahead in a competitive world,'' says Deshmukh. And he believes that magic can instill these qualities effortlessly and rapidly. ``People are fascinated by magic, and their curiosity ensures that they learn fast.'' He believes that if you can imagine the invisible, you achieve the impossible. And magic has this uncanny ability of increasing your power to visualise the unseen.

Deshmukh's 52nd magic-workshop at the Bandra Hindu Association Hall, to take off later this week, is open to students, executives, marketing people and anyone who's interested in overhauling their personality. The aim is not to convert the participants into practising magicians, but to instill the creative approach of magic in their daily lives. ``I teach them enough tricks to hold an impromptu magic show of 90 minutes, if they want to,'' he says.

The participants are limited to 20 in order to give them his individual attention. They are taught more than 400 magic tricks and given backgrounders on the principles on which they work palming, misdirection, miscueing and doctored equipment. Also included are briefings and on stage management techniques, oration, presentation skills and other related topics. Diplomas are awarded only on the completion of a satisfactory stage performance on the final day. Deshmukh is confident that his approach works.

After all, he has trained over 20,000 participants in the past 15 years and two of his students figure in the The Guinness Book and the Limca Book. He has to his credit the SAARC Award in '88, the National Youth Award '90, the Outstanding Person of the World Award in '96 and other local awards. He is holding a show with Sanjna Kapoor this month and with Maneka Gandhi sometime next month. Under him, the IAM has prospered and established a full-fledged academy in Nasik for advanced studies in magic. Spread over five acres of land, the Rs 3.5 crore establisment contains hostels, research centres, classrooms, and auditoriums, and can accomodate 200 students.

In addition to using magic to lift sagging shoulders, IAM is also working on giving fashion a magical touch. In an offbeat experiment, it is organising a fashion show peppered with disappearing acts next month. A couple of other interesting projects have been held up due to lack of sponsors. The first is to make the Gateway of India vanish in front of TV cameras and incredulous eyes.

The other is far more hair-raising and bizzare. Deshmukh will lock his assistant in a box, weld it shut, and then carry it to the terrace of one of the high-rise buildings at Nariman Point. The box will be flung down, and when it lands on the pavement far below, Deshmukh promises that it will explode and out of the smoke will emerge the assistant, unscathed and with a big grin on his face.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.