Thiruvananthapuram: Magicians cast a spell on us but in recent times the lot of the traditional practitioners of the craft has been miserable. Rehabilitation of talented artistes is one of the objectives of the theme park named Magic Planet run by famed magician Gopinath Muthukad here. He recently happened to marry off an orphaned circus artiste employed here.

The wedding of Sonia Thappa was held as per Bengali traditions at Kalighat in Kolkata. But standing right next to her during the whole ceremony was Muthukad, who took the role of her parent.

The popular magician gave Sonia’s hand in marriage to another circus artist named Sumit Rai.

Sonia was born in Assam and entered the circus ring at the age of seven. Trapeze ring has been her home ever since.

She arrived at the circus castle of Magic Planet, located in the Kerala capital, two years ago. Orphaned and homeless, she was gifted a house in the artists' village by Muthukad. Sonia considers the celebrated magician and his wife Kavita as her parents. When the marriage proposal came, they were the ones she sought approval from.

Bharatarajan from the Magic Planet and the Kolkata Kairali Samajam office-bearers took initiative to organise the wedding.

None of Sonia's relatives attended the function.