Vazhakkunnam

Vazhakunnam was married to K. C. Anujathi Thampuratty of Kottakkal Kovilakam and the couple had two sons, Aravindakshan Raja and Thulasidas Raja and a daughter, Sumathy. He died on 9 February 1983, a day after his 80th birthday, survived by his three children. His wife had predeceased him in 1980.

Vazhakkunnam, though he used to perform mesmerism and hypnotism occasionally, was more keen on performing impromptu magic such as Cheppum Panthum, a trick using small cups and balls. He was one of the first performing magicians in Kerala and his contribution in developing the art form earned him the title, the Father of Magic in Kerala. His early performances were amidst small gatherings at homes and his first public performance on a stage was in 1940.

Vazhakkunnam Neelakandan Namboothiri (8 February 1903 – 9 February 1983), better known as Professor Vazhakkunnam was an Indian performing magician and illusionist from the south Indian state of Kerala. He was one of the earliest practitioners of the art of magic in India and the pioneer of the art in Kerala, which earned him the moniker, "the Father of Magic in Kerala". He is credited with popularising the art form in his home state.

Neelakandan Namboothiri was born on 8 February 1903 (Makaram 26, 1078 on Makyeeryam nakshatra as per Malayalam calendar) in Vaazhakunnath Mana in Thiruvegappura, near Pattambi, in Palakkad district of the south Indian state of Kerala to Raman Atithiripad, a witty Brahmin popularly known as Vaazhakkunnam Ateeri and Arya Pathanaadi, as their fourth son. His early schooling included Othu (study of vedas) after which his elder brother, Vasudevan Namboothiri, himself known as a Bhagavata scholar, taught him Sanskrit and he learned English under the tutelage of Pattambi Narayana Iyer. He developed a liking to magic at an early age when he watched a local magician by name, Mundaya Eachara Varier, performing at his home. Later, he also developed a fascination for elephants and this led him to study Matanga Lila, a Sanskrit treatise about elephants, under Kochunni Thampuran of Kodungallur Kovilakam. It was here he chanced upon a magic performance of Pallatheri Nambyathan Namboodiri and the young Neelakandan, with his teacher's permission, started learning magic under Pallatheri. Later, he learned the Bullet trick and Hair trick from a magician named Baker.