Samala Venu, president of All India Magicians Academy, representing the interests of about 3,500 artistes in the country including 400 in Andhra Pradesh, has regretted that the State had ignored them in the award of Ugadi Puraskars.
“It is sad that not a single magician has been selected for the Ugadi Puraskars this year that were announced for people across 41 categories,” he said and recalled that magic was recognised as an art.
Discrimination
Mr. Venu wondered how recognition for magic was missed out though two mimicry artistes, Srinivas and Sylvester, who already got these awards in the past feature in this year’s list again.
He said he got the award in 2001 and since then magicians were honoured almost every year till now.
Mr. Venu pointed out that even in the World Telugu Conference held at Tirupati about two months ago, magicians were forgotten.
He also appealed to the government to give due recognition to magicians.
