P. C. Sorcar
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use Indian English Template:Infobox person Protul Chandra Sorcar (23 February 1913 – 6 January 1971) was an Indian magician.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> He was an internationally active magician throughout the 1950s and 1960s, performing his Indrajal show before live audiences and on television. Sorcar died of a heart attack at the age of 57 in Asahikawa, Hokkaidō, Japan, on 6 January 1971, as he left the stage at the end of a performance.<ref name=BBCMaharajah>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> P.C. Sorcar is known also as P.C. Sorcar Senior (as his son P.C. Sorcar Jr. also performs under the same name), is renowned as "Father of Modern Indian Magic".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
CareerEdit
At the age of 21, Sorcar decided to give up formal education (he was likely to study to become an engineer), and decided to become a conjuror despite the profession's low esteem in India.<ref name="randi">Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp
Sorcar became famous in the mid-1930s, when he performed shows in Kolkata and also in Japan and several other countries. Among other routines, he performed a Floating Lady routine featuring aerial suspension in 1964.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Ganapati Chakraborty was his mentor.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In 1956, he performed the sawing a woman in half illusion on the BBC's Panorama program.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> When he performed it on live television, it draw huge attention in the United Kingdom because the climax made it appear as though the women had actually been cut in half and died, which caused a public panic.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
His self-appointed title was "The World's Greatest Magician".<ref name="randi" />Template:Rp
Sorcar died in Japan in 1971, suffering a massive heart attack while exiting the stage at the end of a performance.<ref name=BBCMaharajah/><ref name="randi" />Template:Rp
Personal lifeEdit
Sorcar was married to Basanti Devi. They were the parents of the animator, director and laserist Manick Sorcar and magicians P. C. Sorcar Jr. and P. C. Sorcar, Young.
AwardsEdit
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- Jadusamrat P.C. Sorcar Sarani The Government of India has named a major street in Calcutta after him
- Padma Shri (the Lotus), awarded by the President of India on 26 January 1964
- The Sphinx (Oscar of Magic), US, 1946 and 1954
- The Royal Medallion, German Magic Circle
Postage stampEdit
On 23 February 2010, India Post issued a commemorative stamp to honour him.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
PublicationsEdit
- Magic for You (1966)
- More Magic for You (1965)
- History of Magic (1970)
- Indian Magic (1983)
See alsoEdit
ReferencesEdit
External linksEdit
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