Members of the Malkangiri-based youth group perform a stunt in Bhubaneswar. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, March 3: Binash Kumar Mishra and his martial art students cast a spell on the audience with their daring stunts and magic tricks. But their objective is not limited to entertainment. With encouragement and aid from some helpful people, one of whom is Malkangiri collector R. Vineel Krishna, the youngsters work for the uplift of society as well.

The group from Malkangiri, who have already taken up the responsibility of educating children, have now set their hearts on opening an old age home as well as a monastery.

Mishra, who has opened a martial arts school — All Orissa Martial Arts Academy — in his hometown, trains close to 100 students in many forms of self-defence techniques such as kung fu, taekwondo, judo, karate and so on.

“But we do not want to be limited to simply self-defence techniques. Through choreographed stunts, we want to sensitise viewers about various social issues,” says Mishra.

The team recently displayed a number of courageous stunts in the capital during a reality show for a private television channel. Their performance won the hearts of people across the state. They even found second place in the finals of the TV show.

“We formed a huge ring of fire and one of our artistes hung from the ring while deep in meditation,” he says.

Some of them made a formation while balancing on large arrow tips. “These acts display the power of meditation and mind control. We try to promote self-control and meditation through these stunts.”

Some artistes in the group also perform stunts on bikes and four-wheelers.

Trained from the age of six by various teachers across the country and by monks in Nepal in magic and martial arts, Mishra was one of the six participants from Orissa at the 24th Magic Olympics held in Beijing in 2009.

“More than 2,000 magicians gathered there from countries all over the world. It was such a wonderful experience to see how far magicians have reached in other countries. Sadly, in India it is still not recognised as a performing art.”

Mishra and his friends already educate 10 orphan children. But meeting expenses for props at performances and the needs of the children are the challenges he faces.

“It becomes very difficult sometimes to manage so many things with limited resources. Thankfully, there are a few people like collector R. Vineel Krishna, who funded our props for the reality show.”

The team performs regularly at events across the state.

Says a member artiste of the team, Raj Kumar Parida, “We want to gather funds to build a monastery that will focus on human values. It will not be based on any particular religion. It will offer courses on self-discipline and meditation.”