It is 2018, and English magician Drummond Money-Coutts is in Udaipur to perform the Great Indian Rope Trick, where a magician tosses a rope into the sky. A boy climbs the rope. The magician chases after him with a sword and cuts off his limbs, which rain down on the audience. Moments later, the boy emerges from a nearby basket, all limbs intact.
The only problem is that Money-Coutts cannot find anyone in Udaipur who is familiar with the rope trick, which, according to his grandfather who was the editor of Britain’s Daily Telegraph, is nothing but a myth. So, he does his own version of the trick, a kind of tribute to the Indian magicians of yore.
He is trussed with rope and placed in a suspended cage, with swords pinning him into position. The cage is then padlocked, and hung over spikes. Then, the spikes and the ropes holding the cage are set on fire. Money-Coutts has approximately a minute to untie himself, remove the swords, pick the padlock and leap to a safety rope—before the ropes burn through and the cage crashes on to the burning spikes.
There is a tense silence among the audience as Money-Coutts climbs into the cage. The drama builds up as the ropes and the spikes are set afire. As the clock ticks, he works furiously to free himself. And that is when two of the ropes give way. There is a collective gasp as, just in the nick of time, he leaps and latches on to the safety rope.
The rope trick was one of the death-defying stunts he performed for Netflix’s 2018 series, Death by Magic. In the eight episodes that were filmed across five countries, he had to see paramedics thrice. Two of those injuries were life-threatening.He was on oxygen, suffered smoke inhalation and suffered burns to his head.
Denne historien er fra November 21, 2021-utgaven av THE WEEK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra November 21, 2021-utgaven av THE WEEK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
A golden girl
One of India's most formidable beauties passed away earlier this month. The odd thing is she would absolutely hate this obituary; she hated being written about and avoided publicity for all of her nine decades. Indira Aswani was 93 when she died. But anyone who encountered her, even briefly, was in such awe of her grace and poise, and one could not but remember her forever.
The interest in wine is growing delightfully in India
The renowned British wine writer and television presenter Jancis Robinson, 74, recently came to Delhi and Mumbai to reacquaint herself with India's wine industry. This was the Robinson's fourth visit to India; the last one was seven years ago. On this trip, Robinson and her husband, restaurateur Nicholas Lander, were hosted by the Taj Hotels and Sonal Holland, India's only Master of Wine.
United in the states
Indian-Americans coming together under the Democratic umbrella could get Harris over the line in key battlegrounds
COVER DRIVE
Usage-driven motor insurance policies offer several benefits
GDP as the only measure of progress is illogical
Dasho Karma Ura, one of the world's leading happiness experts, has guided Bhutan's unique gross national happiness (GNH) project. He uses empirical data to show that money cannot buy happiness in all circumstances, rather it is family and health that have the strongest positive effect on happiness. Excerpts from an interview:
India is not a controlling big brother
Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay considers India a benevolent elder sibling as the \"big brotherly attitude\" is happily missing from bilateral ties. He thinks the relationship shared by the two countries has become a model of friendship not just for the region, but for the entire world. \"India's attitude is definitely not of a big brother who is controlling and does not allow the little brother to blossom and grow,\" says Tobgay in an exclusive interview with THE WEEK.
Comrade with no foes
Lal Salaam, Comrade Yechury-you were quite a guy!
Pinning down saffron
In her first political bout, Vinesh Phogat rides on the anti-BJP sentiment across Haryana
MAKE IN MANIPUR
Home-made rockets and weapons from across the border are escalating the conflict
SAHEB LOSES STEAM
Coalition dynamics and poor electoral prospects continue to diminish Ajit Pawar's political stock