By Ashraf Padanna/Thiruvananthapuram

North Indian street illusionist Assim Khan and a team with Kerala conjuror Gopinath Muthukad on their arrival at Trivandrum Central Railway Station to participate in IndiaJaal
Street illusionists from north India have literally taken the Kerala capital by storm, exhibiting their skill in manipulating aspects of ‘reality’. Illusionists from West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Kerala are being honoured at the three-day IndiaJaal, the confluence of illusionists that began here yesterday.
Their arrival at the Trivandrum Central Railway Station itself presented the audience with some enchanting moments as they displayed tricks that astounded even ace illusionist Gopinath Muthukad, architect of the event.
After receiving a bouquet of blood-red roses from the hosts, Ashiq Ali, one of the visiting illusionists, started beating his traditional drum. His son, 17-year-old Sharooq Khan supported the father, playing the flute. The orchestra caught the attention of commuters and suddenly a crowd was formed around the illusionists.
An elder member of the street illusion team, Assim Khan, pulled out a sharp knife from his trouser pocket and swayed it abruptly against Muthukad’s head.
As everybody stood spellbound at this unexpected ‘attack’ over the Merlin-award winning illusionist, flowers started showering from a thoroughly stunned magician’s head.
Khan who produced flowers at the tip of a precarious knife just shrugged his shoulders and commented with a smile, “Saabji, ye hai hamaraa shtyle” (“Sir, this is our style”).
Traditional troupes are being led by Ashiq Ali, Shamim Khan (Delhi), Farooq Sha (Rajasthan) and Aas Mohamed (Uttar Pradesh). The Indiajaal national integration summit continues at St Joseph’s School and AKG Memorial Hall.
The traditional street illusionists performed yesterday at five open air venues at the Vailoppilly Samskriti Bhavan here.
Their illusions included the ‘rope trick’, the ‘Indian basket’ and the ‘green mango trick’ among others.
Minister for Tourism A P Anil Kumar honoured the street magicians while Deputy Speaker N Sakthan presided over the function.
‘’The chief objective of the event is to lend a helping hand to street magicians and ensure they get due recognition. ‘IndiaJaal provides an opportunity to identify such magicians,’’ the organisers said.