THE 'ESCAPE' FROM INFERNO..

The rehearsals went as smooth as smooth as silk. The stunt was perfect. Though the element of danger prevailed, I was confident I would get out of the fire unharmed. The 29th of October arrived sooner than expected and before I knew it, the Mc had announced me…


It was the annual Diwali bash at my old school. It was my seventh year performing there.

I took the stage to thunderous applause. Doves appeared in flashes of fire, giant fans out of nowhere, the birdcage and doves vanished, a table eerily floated in the air and light was manipulated with the greatest of ease. Then time came for – Inferno…

A committee from the audience inspected the handcuffs, chains, locks and sack that were to restrain me. They passed the test. I was handcuffed and chained and then taken to the centre of a circle of hay that had been made in the middle of the field. There I was placed in the sack and its mouth was tied. My assistants placed a cardboard carton over me….total darkness. As soon as I felt the carton around me, I began working on the handcuffs, in about thirty seconds I was out. My hands were free; in the meanwhile, my assistants were busy dousing the hay and the carton with fuel. I could hear the voices of the audience, the smell of the petrol reached my nostrils, the music blaring in the speakers. Over the din, my mother voice suddenly reached my ears, “that’s enough, done pour anymore” she shouted. Damn, I though, they’ve poured too much of fuel. I frantically began to undo the knots that held the sack shut. Straining my fingers through the canvas sack and getting the knots loose. As soon as I was out, I felt the heat around me, the fire had been lit. I shook off the remaining chains and got my ankles out of the tangle of metal. Then there was a sudden explosion around me, I had no idea what happened but the outer layer of the carton just burst. A wave of flames gushed in from under the carton. The inside was ablaze and I was standing in the fire. I felt the hair on my arms singe off, heat around my left arm… the escape was definitely not going the way it was planned. Calling out to God I grabbed the bottom rim of the carton through the flames and threw it over my head and made a dash forward. I felt something burning hit me on the face, I felt the skin starting to peel off the lower half of my face. I took a bow and tried to exit and the next thing I knew, mom had poured a bottle of water on my head… I didn’t realize but my hair was on fire. The applause was still on as I made my way to the green room, a few of the teachers realized that something was wrong and came to the green room, however to most of the crowd I had performed a heroic escape. A very favorite teacher of me started crying. My face was burning. Horrific blisters started erupting on my waist and left arm… but I was glad I was alive…Thank You God.

First aid was applied in the form of ice and Silverex ointment. The principal, his wife and m any of the teachers came to see me. I knew I would not be able to perform anytime soon and started calling clients and canceling my performances.

I got home and the family doc was called. He prescribed a ton of antibiotics. The next day, talks were on to hospitalize me, I was however against the idea. We called Dr.Sanmoy Ganguly, one of the cities best doctors who is also a magician of his own right. A prescription of six antibiotic injections per day followed. News spread in the magic community like wild fire and fellow magicians are still coming over to see me. Thank You. I am quickly recovering as the stage calls out to me. I like to thank St.James school, Mr.Ireland and Mr Chako, for their contribution towards my treatment. My friends Rajat da, Didi, Ruchira Rongit and Pisimoni, Deepmala, Sweepy, Sachin, Jenny, without whose constant love and support my recovery wouldn’t be so quick, specially Sweepy. Dr. P.Biswas and Dr.Ganguly for their medication.

Thank You Mom for love and care.

Thank You God for giving me the strength and bravery to come out of the inferno alive.

God bless you always……

Note: haven’t got photos of the escape yet, and post accident photos of me are too graphic to post here….

Performances Performances Performances

Oooooooo!! Wotta tym!!!

Well it been a very busy past couple of weeks Performances performances performances….

I started of with performing at the Centenary performances of Sika, a construction company, where I also doubled up as an offstage emcee as the one book by the client ditched them at the last moment. It was fun performing and most of the crowd knew me from my tv appearances.



That was followed by a performance at a private party at the same venue a couple of days later. It was a tough performance as most of the stage was taken by the band’s setup. But anyway, the performance was well received.



With my poster promoting the shows, and signing autographs..



Product launches were up next in the various schools. Titan relaunched their line of ‘Zoop’ watches for kids. We did 10 of the cities top schools. I was back to performing bright and colorful magic for kids… parasols, flowers, scarves etc….. We ended the performances with an illusion where I turned a doll and plastic watch into a girl wearing a Zoop watch. The rush for autographs was amazing….. well I almost got killed in most of the schools but anyway…

Over the last weekend I did a couple of corporate shows. The first was for ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund where I also doubled up as an emcee along with my friend,Pooja.

It was a really fun audience and the audience participation effects were really well received.

The very next day, at the same venue, I did a product launch for ELF. I launched their two new products, both engine oils, one for bikes and the for cars. Pooja appeared from an empty box with the products. Besides I also performed a 20 minute entertainment programme at the event. Post the event, client said “ David, all these days we just knew Sorcar, but now we’ve found someone who’s going to be greater…very very soon…(dunno if I should have typed dat!!)


Product Launch!!




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Product Launch !!

















Durga puja followed…I did just one show this year at Samadrita, a housing complex. This was my third year there. I debuted a few new effects there. My original version of a signed currency note which was burnt and then appeared in an apple was a hit.(the audience really went ku ku ku..) I also performed a mentalism routine involving the whole audience and an improved card manipulation act. My floating table had the audience gaping in awe…. Post the performance, a bunch of girls came backstage for photographs. So much so that one of the guys commented.. “David, we are after these girls all year round, but you just come for one evening and they are all under your spell”

Pandal hopping was a different experience this year, on ashtami and nabami I accompined my friend Deep Mala from the Times of India and about 300 underpriviledged children pandal hopping around the city in the morning. It was family time in the evenings with Mom, Rajat da, Didi,Ruchira and Rongit. We visited the cities famous pandals…. And I had to pose for photos with fans at every corner… Amazing!!!

Well a lil free now….Looking forward to more work… See you soon..

May there be sunshine always…….

Another poem.... oh no!!!!

Some people know i love writing poems for them.....
Well this is dedicated to 'some people'...
I did write it though...

THE CONJURING HUSBAND

The nicest husband in the land,

Is one who lives by sleight of hand

At morn for instance – one two three

Coffee and cream are flowing free

And with a few more magic thumps

He fills the sugar bowl with lumps

While sausage, rolls and all of that

He takes of course, from his old hat

Though there may be of wood a dearth

He builds a fire upon the hearth

And turns a pair of worn out shoes

To meet as good as one could choose

All else that a feast would please

He takes from a nightcap with ease

And without trouble or ado

Himself can roast or boil or stew

At noon and evening tis the same

She cares for naught that lucky dame

What e’er is needed for her use

His magic wand will quick produce

Fresh toilets in the newest style

Are ready in a little while

Wraps, gold and jewel; in short, all

That she may long for, grate or small

Scarcely has she the wish complete.

Before he lays it at her feet

And yet- you’ll wonder it should be-

The two will sometimes disagree

And whatsoe’er he may provide

She will remain unsatisfied

In such case, as in others too

His sleight of hand will help him through

If unendurable grows she

A cloth thrown o’er her- one two three-

And silently she disappears

The household war no more one hears.

Just thought i'd share something

Hello again,


A couple of years ago, my favorite magic shop had a sale of old books. There were a quite a few good books and even though they came at throw away prices I could only afford a couple at that time. One of the books I bought was ‘The Magicians Handbook’ by Herrmann the Great. It was still well bound, but the pages had turned brittle and yellow, however for 25 rupees, it seemed a fair bargain. Like all the books in my modest library, I never read the book cover to cover but in bits and pieces here and there.

I came across the book today, it contained a poem which was published in the New York Journal as a tribute to the author on his death. I thought is was great and want to share it wth you…. Here it is….

THE MAGICIAN’S ART

Saint Peter sat at the gates of gold

And the winter’s night had gone

He was thin and old, and the earth lay cold

And black with December dawn.

But presently over the hills of snow

A heaven bound spirit came,

It paused by the saint, and bending low

It whispered a mystic name

Saint Peter started “what, Herrmann the Great?

Then why do you pause?” said he.

“Your magic might open the finest gate

With never a word from me.”

“Not so,Saint Peter,” the shade replied,

“My magic was but of earth;

It was well enough on the other side

But here its lost its worth”

But the good saint answered, with earnest air

“I pray you will have no fear,

For you practiced another magic there

That counts as well up here.”

“You offered hope to the weary heart

In Charity’s sacred name;

You brightened the world with a blessed art

That counts up here the same”

Saint Peter mused by the gates alone,

And his face looked old and thin

As he thought of the dearth of the art on earth

That had let the magician in.

Hoping that touched you, like it touched me...

God bless.

See you soon…

Me - A brief history.....

As a child, studies never fascinated me. I was always interested in the offbeat. When I was in the eight standard, I fell in love with magic. It was just a hobby at the time; little did I know that it would become my life. I spent the rest of my school life doing card tricks for friends and performing for under-privileged children and at school events.


When I was in the tenth standard, I gave my first paid performance, two weeks before my board exams. By now magic was in my blood, whether it was reading magic books under the desk in class or locking myself in the bathroom to practice in front of the mirror when I was supposed to be studying. Even though I never paid much attention to my studies, I always managed to stay above the red line. However, I was somehow not promoted to the twelfth standard. I was shattered. Mom and I repeatedly tried to meet the principal to discuss the issue but we had no luck. On one such attempt, I met a friend on the steps of the principal’s office. He had met the same fate as me. When I asked him his plans, he replied, “ I’m joining Johnny’s Dad’s school”. These few words changed my life, it was what set me free. Now Johnny was a classmate of ours and we grew up together, both of his parents had seen me grow. Mom and I went to visit them that very evening and the next day, I proudly joined The Academy, Johnny’s Dad’s school. I had no books, no uniform and no idea what I was to do next. At The Academy, I was given the love and respect I always wanted, and under Stanley sir’s (Johnny’s dad’s) guidance, I started to grow into what I am today. I performed at all the schools events and still do today. In the last month school, a leading English daily approached Stanley sir to award a student of the school with ‘The Student of the Year Award’. Sir recommended me. The paper refused, wanting to give the award to an academically strong student. To this, Sir replied that either the award was to be given to me or not be given out at all that year. He further challenged the paper that if I were not given the award then, they would regret it five years down the line. So finally the paper agreed and I was awarded ‘The Student of the Year 2006’. The paper booked me to appear at one of their events, which led me to being booked in almost every major school in Kolkata. Meanwhile I passed my board exams with moderate marks. The lack of interest in studies and financial conditions kept me from pursuing my education any further. I joined a BPO and started working in their best process. Entertaining my colleagues during work became a regular thing. After six months of work, the process closed down and I was asked to shift to a lower post in the BPO. I refused and quit my job. It was then, in November 2006 that I decided to become a professional magician. Performances started happening, I became a sought after performer for some event managers. The performances in the schools kept happening, corporate companies also started booking me. Some months had jam-packed work while others had no work at all. In May 2008, I was booked to perform at a private party for the Royal Family of Bhutan. They loved my show and I have been performing for them ever since. I became a regular performer for some companies and kept expanding my magic. In March this year, I auditioned for ‘India’s Magic Star’ a reality magic show on Star One. I made it to the top 10 and went on to the show. It was an awesome experience. I was bringing what I loved doing to the entire nation. I performed some of the most difficult sleight of hand, innovative illusions, had experiences like never before and made friendships that would last a lifetime. I was eliminated from the competition at the sixth position. I was really sad at the time. However, I realized the impact my magic had when I returned to Kolkata. Fans asking for autographs of photos on Park Street, people stopping me on the road to congratulate me, some even asking how the judges could eliminate me. I am happy. Everyone dreams, I am one of the few who live my dream, my hearts wildest fantasy. I’m hoping to have a grand future in magic....



……stay tuned…….