Now you see him, now you don’t

Photo Credits: Clifford Parakh

He shows a string and asks you to inspect it. You check both ends, hold it tight and try to concentrate, while he then swiftly moves his hands in the air and suddenly asks you to look down at the string. Now, there’s a ring hanging in the middle of the string, the string whose ends are clutched tightly in your hands. How did that happen? This is probably something you only see in the movies, or read about in books, where someone is so mesmerised by….magic? Read about this man too. Commander Clifford Parakh, a magician who has to this credit over 2000 stage shows and thousands of live performances spread across 12 years. He’s also a naval officer, albeit on who succumbed to the power of magic and illusion years ago.

It’s a magical journey that kick-started exactly a decade after Commander Clifford Parakh was commissioned in the Indian Navy on January 1, 1993 that finally compelled him to listen to his heart, take a bold decision and leave behind his shining career of 22 years, take a U turn and walk on a totally different path. Signing off his job in 2015 to devote full-time to his passion and making it his profession, Commander (Retd) Clifford Parakh recalls his encounter with magic, “I came across a small magic kit in 2003 at Gharapuri caves off Gateway of India in Mumbai which triggered something in me. Fascinated by the concept of magic I began collecting books on it. A hungry reader, I read voraciously and learnt few tricks, myself. Then I began trying my hands on these little tricks in family get-togethers, friends’ circles and naval officers’ gatherings – for enjoying sheer joy of entertaining others. After earning some confidence, I extended my gestures towards charity shows for orphanages and old age homes. It was really heart-warming to see that I could spread smiles on so many unknown faces with so less or no props.”

Today Clifford’s bookshelf adorns a sizable collection of all best sellers on magic, his cupboards stuffed with props and his cheerful personality is ever ready to do tricks to make people laugh. “It was my calling,” he admits, adding, “Finally I took the call. Yes, it was hard for me to think life away from the Army. The decision was difficult, to leave behind a strict disciplinary life, six figure salary, perks and the prestige that brought this post to me and my family. Yet I did call it a day.”

Clifford’s life changed track. It was his passion that drove him into magic in 2003. Embracing his new-found passion and learning its finer nuances he began using logic, science and presence-of-mind to entertain small groups just for fun. The journey gradually continued through the years and took a serious turn. Today, 13 years later illusionist Clifford is at home with his new (but favourite) vocation. He does illusions and close up magic as well as displays mentalism (based on the principles of mind reading) to entertain his audience – formal audience or private events. His shows are a mixture of drama, humour, suspense, telekinesis, mind reading, music, laughter and much more. He also does stage work, product launch, corporate events, ice-breaker, close up magic, restaurant magic etc all over India. Performed with his wife Radhika, Clifford’s masterpiece – mind reading duo – is his show stopper.

Clifford admits, “Radhika is my first critic, who corrects me if I err, even if it is a small mistake and then comes out with valuable suggestions and solutions. For an illusionist like me, it’s not ‘a one man show’. To create magic I need an interactive audience. Audience participation puts life into my shows. Their feedback is important. One has to listen to the audience feedback. Their words involuntary tell you what part of the show they enjoyed the most and why.”

Clifford’s grandfather was Parsi, but his parents were Christians. Born and brought up in Dehradun, he comes from an army background with strict disciplinary life. His father was in ITBP (Indo-Tibet Border Police) force. Clifford joined NDA (National Defence Academy) Pune at 16 and underwent rigorous training for three years. He fought in the Kargil war, an experience not easily forgotten. He says, “Navy has given me a lot. It gave the opportunity to interact closely with people, live critical moments and face testing times. You get first-hand experience how people would behave when they are on edge. This has helped me to understand human psychology.”

His moment of truth? “Wanting to bring smiles on the faces of people, I often asked myself if guns and missiles could do that. Only magic could do it, my inner voice replied. It was ‘my calling’. I listened to my inner voice and voluntarily retired in February 2015. Long before that I had made Goa my home.”