CHENNAI: Not many 13-year-old boys are passionate about any one thing in life. Not so with RR Yathunandh. A budding magician, the teenager is passionate about bringing a little bit of magic to people around him.Yathunandh’s love for magic started three years ago, when he came across a video called “Easy Card Tricks Revealed”. He says, “I didn’t even have a proper deck of cards with me, so I used a pack of cricket trading cards to try out the tricks. They were so easy, and I was hooked.”Training at the Madras Magic Centre for the past two years, under accomplished magician Vadivel Pillai, Yathunandh has shown his talents at various shows and competitions. “I have performed at birthday parties, New Year parties, during Pongal, and in many other places. I practise every day, and I love to perform,” says the boy who wants to be a “gentleman magician” like David Copperfield or Lance Burton.Yathunandh was awarded a scholarship to Tannen’s Magic Camp in suburban Pennsylvania, USA, from July 9 to 16. The Society of American Magicians Magic Endowment Fund granted the scholarship.“This is where the magic ended,” says Yathunandh’s mother, Nirmala R. “He was denied a visa by the US consulate. All our papers were in order, so we do not know why this happened” she says. The society has agreed to hold the scholarship for a year, but there is no written confirmation of this, says Nirmala. Yathunandh says, “It makes me sad when I think about it. I do not want to talk about the camp.”This hitch in his magical journey has in no way dampened the youngster’s enthusiasm when asked about his favourite tricks. “I am good at sleight of hand tricks, they come easily to me. I enjoy doing things which the audience does not expect,” Yathunandh says brightly. He regularly posts videos on YouTube, under the title MrMrMagic1998.Does he plan to take on magic as a full time profession? “I think I will become an aeronautical or marine engineer; this will give me the freedom to pursue my passion later on in life,” says Yathunandh. The young magician is keen to concentrate on his education, but is willing to do shows on the weekends, as long as it does not hamper his homework, he says.
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