Mangalore: Kudroli Ganesh's 'Vismaya Foundation' to Foster Art of Magic

Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore

Mangalore, Jan 19: Not long ago, he won the hearts of people across India with his unique blend of magic and folklore on popular reality show 'India's Got Talent'. Now, Kudroli Ganesh aims to encourage, train and foster other budding magicians in the region.

'Vismaya Foundation', set up by Kudroli Ganesh, was inaugurated at Town Hall here on Wednesday January 18 by Alva's Education Foundation chairman Dr Mohan Alva. As expected, it was not an ordinary inauguration, but a 'magical' one that had everyone present awestruck. The lamp which was lit by Dr Alva was produced out of a visibly empty box, along with the logo of the foundation on a photo frame.

Addressing the gathering, Dr Alva extolled Kudroli Ganesh's talent and his power to stupefy the audience with his tricks. He also dwelt on his unique way of presenting the art with a blend of local culture and urged him to encourage research in the field of magic through the new Foundation.

Bantwal MLA B Ramanath Rai presided over the programme and spoke of his personal experience with the ace magician, when the latter had performed a magic trick on him and made him 'disappear'.

Mangalore University registrar Prof Chinappa Gowda also hailed Kudroli Ganesh for keeping the local culture alive by depicting it through his magical art. It shows his creativity and brilliance, and proves his love for his homeland, he added.

Kudroli Ganesh recalled the early days of his career, when back in 1999, he made a small team that used to perform magic tricks as a hobby. He said that the country has a vast fund of talents in the field of magic and illusion, which needs to be explored, and one of the ways he wants to do it is by setting up the Foundation. He lamented that India is still lagging behind in this art, while internationally magicians are surging ahead with innovations. "I want to train and help budding magicians make a career out of the art," he said.

After the inauguration, a magic show was performed in which, apart from Kudroli Ganesh, even children displayed their skills.

Among those present were MLC Ganesh Karnik, president of Mangala Magic Circle Swarna Sunder and others.