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Concern over including magic as competition item

Noted magician Samraj, who mesmerises his audience with mind-boggling feats, is apprehensive about the Government decision to include magic as an item for competition in school arts festivals.

About 3,000 magicians have taken magic as their livelihood. While some perform illusion and conjuring act, there are many who eke out a living performing magic on the street. A fairly sound knowledge about the theme is imperative to watch Kathakali, but it is just the contrary in the case of magic. Mystery is the secret of magic. The audience should never have an inkling about what they see on the stage. Once the public get to know the secret of the tricks, magic would lose its charm, he says.

A miniscule minority which earns a living selling the wares used for magic and also conducting classes may be benefited, but it would be a real challenge to the majority who practise magic as an art and the decision would lead to its extinction, he says.

N.J. Nair

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