From guns to wands, Clifford's long journey

After 22 years of service as a gunnery and missile specialist, Clifford Parakh launched himself out of the forces and into the unknown terrain of illusions. His story is as magical as his performance.
Off duty and walking through a fair in Mumbai in 2003, then commander Clifford Parakh chanced upon a store displaying magic tricks and was instantly bewitched.For 12 years, he tried to fight the spell and continue his routine as a naval officer, but often succumbed to its charm by letting the Houdini in him out to enthrall friends, colleagues or anyone that wanted to be mesmerized. His posting in Goa, in 2006, led him to the state’s claim to magical fame — Edmundo Da Cunha, who eventually became his mentor and gave him the confidence he needed to make the career change.
“After we settled down in Goa, I found out about Edmundo and tried to get in touch with him. But with his busy schedule, it was next to impossible. It was a chance encounter at a magicians’ convention in Kerala where I was picked as a volunteer for his show and was finally introduced to him. He allowed me to accompany him as an observer at his shows. He taught me how to connect with the audience, how to be a showman and an entertainer. If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t have dared to leave the Navy,” shares the 46-year-old Sancoale-based illusionist who travels across country and beyond to showcase his talents.
“Whatever I am today, from my personality to my confidence on stage is because of the Navy. Though I loved the uniform and the discipline, I realized that it was not my calling. My interaction with soldiers from across the country helps me connect with my audience. Today, people tell me that they can’t imagine me firing missiles. ‘You look like a magician’, they tell me,” Clifford shares.
It takes some level of crazy to give up a six-digit salary in exchange for a career that relied on the tricks up his sleeve. And crazy is what his superiors and Dehradun-based police officer father thought he was when he told them he was quitting the force to become a magician. The one person who did believe in him was herself under his charm, ever since their encounter on board the Konark Express’ two-day journey from Vishakhapatnam to Mumbai. Today, as his wife, Radhika accompanies him in their unique “mind-connect act”, where she is blindfolded and is made to guess the number or country or object a random audience member is thinking of. She assists him in his shows, plans his itinerary, and does the “best disappearing act of all by making all the money vanish”, he jokes.
Although the security of his pension cushioned the jump, there was still the question of working. He joined Business Network International (BNI), which gave him a platform that offered him three shows a week and a chance to perform at the BNI fest as a corporate performer. “It provided me with the same community feeling that I received and was used to in the Navy,” says Parakh, who is also a member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians.
His son, Kevin, is a magician at school. Until recently, due to academic demands, Kevin too would assist the couple with handling sound effects at performances, offering ideas and helping Clifford innovate acts. “Magic is a very good personality builder for children. It helps develop communication and focus,” shares the proud father.
“I may not be the most naturally-brilliant of magicians, but I work hard on my showmanship to get to that level,” says the self-taught conjurer who performs at events, restaurants and corporate shows. His shows, which are constantly being innovated to suit his clients’ demands, include effects of mind reading, transposition, predictions, metal bending with the mind among others. But performing for an audience, particularly in close-up acts, is no wand-waving task, as he has to prepare himself for rejection and disinterest. “It can really crush your ego if someone says no. But you have to be prepared as you’re entering their personal space,” he says.
Clifford also uses his passion to promote his faith with ‘gospel magic’. “Gospel magic is presenting a magic act based on the Bible theme. The same principles of magic are applied, but we convey lessons from the Bible. It’s very useful to make catechism interesting for kids or for shows during Easter and Christmas.”
His advice to budding wizards: Prioritize reading over learning from the net. This will help in making the act your own. You practice, practice and practice till you can do the routine in your sleep. But the acid test of the effect will be the “reaction of the audience”.
Pushing himself to the next level, Clifford has gone beyond the stage to host Goa’s first street magic show for a local channel. “It’s a huge challenge as besides shooting constraints, I’m surrounded by my audience and anything can happen,” he shares.