THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As the glory of magic tricks vanished more than 3000 magicians went out of work. The shelving of the 4000 rupees pension of the state government also adds to the crisis. Balakrishnan (74), a native of Kozhikode, who took out a baby rabbit from a magic hat and spread the curiosity of the audience, is one of them.

30 per cent of people who rely on magic are in debt and threatened with foreclosure. Age and the decline in the popularity of magic were the reasons. With the COVID lockdown, the stage programs have been reduced. With the advent of YouTube channels that reveal the secrets of magic, the audience lost interest. Mentalism, a new form of magic, also suffered a setback. With this, many people turned into wage labourers and street vendors.

Magicians are also included in Sangeet Natak Akademi's pension for retired artists above age 60. But the monthly income of Rs 4000 is not enough even for medicine. They did not receive it last April either and in August, they got only 3000 rupees. Officials say that the financial crisis has backfired.

Government not raising pension

The government has not considered the demand of the magicians to come up with a new scheme for welfare and to increase their pension. Only those registered before the age of 55 in Sangeet Natak Akademi can get a pension. But more than half of the elderly magicians are not registered. The demand for relaxation of this age also failed. Many people buy medicine on the Rs 1000 pension of the Magic Malayalee Association. Many people are also unhappy that Sangeet Natak Akademi has stopped awarding magicians. Magicians say that like an international film festival, a magic fest should be held in Kerala every year.

"Government should try to reach out to those who have devoted their lives to magic".- Joseph Seba, Office bearer of Magic Malayalee Association