A magic act, made up of a father and son team from Pune, are urging the Bombay High Court to classify magic as an art form.
Vijay and Jitendre Bhopale made the move after they failed to get a response on the matter from theMaharashtrastate government.
The pair hopes that if magic is officially labelled as artistic expression, they would easily gain access to funds from the state, as well as getting rid of suspicions surrounding it.
“Magic is an art in the way acting is or dance and theatres are,” 33-year-old Jitendre Bhopale told the BBC.
Jitendre and his 61 year old father believe that the ‘art status’ would allow the government to create a policy to promote magic, as well as providing funds and support to struggling magicians and an annual magicians festival.
The pair, who was both engineers, says that magic is an ancient art form that has been around since the holy books of Ramayana and Bhagvad Gita.
Vijay has also expressed anger at the so-called magicians who claim that magic has supernatural elements.
His son, who is the Tata Group’s manager, added that these frauds make people believe that magic can cure cancer and other ailments and he hopes that the ‘art status’ will get rid of these claims.
The pair hopes to give lessons in schools and colleges once their ledge has been approved, for their illusionary tricks come from learning and practice.
The Bombay High court will begin the hearing at the end of the month.
