Let me just start off by saying that though I’m just one of his zillion fans, I’m a true BELIEVER. There’s magic and then there’s DYNAMO. What he does is something beyond the concept of magic, tricks and illusions. For those who MAY not know him, I suggest you watch these videos first and then go on to read my article.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=dynamo+top+10+magic
So, I wouldn’t be lying if I said I’m just mesmerized by everything about him. I love the way he is deeply rooted in his family values. His childhood story of him being bullied, having a disorder and seeking guidance from his magician mentor – Grandad, is something that is really inspiring. Apart from his gifted abilities of telepathy and indecipherable tricks, what I really love about him is the simplicity he performs them with, and walks away into the crowd later, like he’s just someone as normal as us.
I have to put a conscious stop to praising him (as of now), as the more important thing here is how I landed up meeting the maestro himself!
It all began on the popular social networking site – Twitter. I had a few days of break before the last paper of the HSC. So as per my normal routine I had my breakfast while watching “Dynamo : Magician Impossible”, glued to the sofa. Later, my mother (who is also a fan) told me to try and write to Dynamo telling him how much we admire his abilities. As I reached my bedroom, I logged into twitter (after being inactive for a while) and as it turns out, Dynamo was in Mumbai! I was stunned. I could not believe that the man who’s a mastermind of magic came to India and that too, to Mumbai. Moreover, there was just an hour left for the contest to end on Twitter that would lead me to meet Dynamo. So I put my studies aside and began tweeting like an absolute maniac which was certainly fruitful as they finally chose me along with a few others to meet Dynamo.
The day finally arrived – the 21st of March, 2014, when I came face to face with Steven Frayne a.k.a. Dynamo. This meeting was only possible thanks to the organizers of the renowned History Tv 18 channel. The event was an interview with Dynamo conducted at the channel’s Mumbai office. Waiting in the conference room for the shoot to begin seemed like ages. We were then escorted to the studio set up where the interview was to happen. We, the audience, were placed to the immediate right of Dynamo, whose chair was just two steps away!
After watching the crew set up the lights, camera, and mics, all our eyes were searching for the unassuming little man to arrive. After half an hour of anticipation, Dynamo and his (extremely good looking) crew members finally enter! The History TV 18 gang gave him a typical Maharashtrian welcome and had to do three retakes of his entry just to get it perfect … and the great Dynamo sweetly obliged!
The crowd couldn’t stop cheering, whistling and clicking him! Hearts skipped a beat all around when he charmingly waved to the gathering. The interview now finally commenced and the cameras began rolling. He was questioned about his childhood days, what made him a magician, what he thought of India and so on. In a later segment of the interview they made Dynamo dance the Bhangda and Dynamo also performed his famous Dynamo shuffle for us with some amazing tricks right before our eyes.
I must emphasize what an amazing experience it was to watch his magic live! It is completely different from watching it on TV. You know when you’re looking from two steps away that neither a camera trick, nor a retake nor some stupid illusion is involved. Dynamo even interacted with the crowd during the breaks which made us feel a strong connection with him.
For the entire two hours of shoot, my gaze was pinned on Dynamo and his greenish blue eyes. At the end of the day, the feeling was magnificent. To know that it was all pure luck and coincidence that I was able to be in the same room as him gave me goose bumps.
I still jump every time I see his episodes on TV. He is a man with amazing abilities and the heart of a simpleton. Apart from his talent, his simplicity and attitude towards life and people is what I love the most. I hope I could meet him again and this time, in a more personal setting, I’d love to learn about the magic he has up his sleeve. How will I make it happen? Abracadabra… watch this space!
