A TALK WITH KING OF JADU- JADUGAR ANAND

We've featured the Indian magician Mr. Anand in the past for his skill as a performer and ability to generate interest in his show and magic in general.
Daijiworld took considerable time and care with their feature on this great magician from India. Plus it has a great hook: Mr. Anand is the Fastest Magician on the Planet.
Anyone can make an elephant disappear quickly, but how many can make it appear in a matter of seconds. He makes the Statue of Liberty disappear in slow motion, a trick performed for the first time in India.
His world of illusion has been hailed by audiences and critics alike as one of the greatest magic shows of Asia, which is not merely performing tricks but creating miracles beyond your wildest imaginations. One can watch in awe as the Jadugar cuts a girl in half using high speed electric saw blade. Pigeons fly out of seemingly empty baskets, a dog goes into a box and out emerges a girl.
Jadugar Anand's set of new tricks include passing through a rotating fan mounted on a table, girl balancing on a bamboo pole. He even brings an elephant onto the stage, much to the amusement of children.
Girls floating and vanishing in mid air, birds appearing from his fingertips and many more breath taking illusions are what Anand offers.
Appropriately the first question dealt with the state of Magic in India today.Viju: What is the present status of magic in India?

Anand: It's indeed sad that there are no many takers for magic, which has still to be accepted as an art, rather than a mere entertaining profession. Between the two performing art forms held high globally are the Russian Circus and Indian Magic. But the younger generation has to be motivated to take up magic.
Viju: As the All-India Magic Federation national president you have been in the forefront in the campaign to set up an academy for magic. Why and how far have you progressed?
Anand: There is a need to form an academy for magicians, as this will help those from the new generations to learn the art. People should know more about this art as it could help get rid of many superstitions that exist in society.
Every year, around 1,000 people get killed in our country because of misconceptions and superstitions related to black magic. The formation of an academy will help people have a clearer idea about magic and also encourage youngsters to learn the art.
The ground is ready for the formation of an academy in Jaipur and setting up an academy in Bangalore is also on cards.

Mr. Anand believes Magicians are neglected in India and need to be encouraged by the government . He commends the Government of Karnataka for not imposing entertainment tax on magic shows.
"However, government policies have not been encouraging and we don't even have an academy to teach the art to our future generations."
If there is anyone who can help bolster Magic's place in India, it is Mr. Anand. It may not be done in the blink of an eye, but it will happen if Mr. Anand is involved.

Interview with Anand Jadugar

Indian Magician Jadugar Anand is in the news once again. The New India Press has coverage of his most recent set of shows in Shimoga.
In addition to the magic he's successfully brought to thousands in and out of India, Mr. Anand hopes to bring attention to the plight of magicians within the country.
Mr. Anand told reporters, "India stands at ninth place in the world ranking in Magic! Yet, the government had not given any recognition to this art. Magic too is an art. But, Government has not identified and encouraged it, as done to music, dance or drama."
Mr. Anand is the president of the All India Association of Magicians. His organization boasts 16,000 members and yet believes its numbers have not been properly recognized by the Indian government.

"Only thing government had done for us is it has reduced the entertainment tax, We do not have extraordinary demands. Give same facilities to us as given to other arts," Mr. Anand said.
Faithful readers of Quinlan's Inside Magic will recall Mr. Anand's efforts in the past few years to not only bring Magic to the Government's attention but to improve society's view of Magic as a profession.
Mr. Anand observed, "There is a invisible screen between society and magic. No parent will allow his or her children to pursue a career in magic."
The trade association is in the process of starting their Academy of Magic at Jaipur and if the Indian Government will provide assistance, they hope to build a second Academy in Bangalore.
How bad is it for magicians in India?
Mr. Anand told the New India Press he has seen "many magicians who died of hunger."
The All India Association provides medical and other support to members to help combat this life-and-death struggle.
Mr. Anand pointed to France's use of Rober Houdin's skills to arrest an impending revolution in Algeria. His message: it worked for France because they appreciated the power of the art form and encouraged its development. Magician Anand has a post-graduate degree in English and his son received his MBA and still performs with the show.
Thus far, Mr. Anand has put on about 450 shows in Kamataka plus another 2,000 shows in Southern India. He intends to continue his push for Government support for Magic and magicians as he continues his tour.

Anand Jadugar- Performed magic show at hari hara kala bhavan, Secunderabad!

He probably can create money out of thin air. However, people are only too willing to pay him. You will be, too, if you read all he can do.
Jadugar Anand was back again this year too, performed two shows daily from 5th April to 18th May, at the Hari Hara Kala Bhavan. The first show started at 4:00pm and the second one at 7:00pm.
Anand’s show in Hyderabad kickstarted on 25th March with a fire escape show at NTR Stadium by his son Akash, a member of Anand’s crew. Akash performed the stunt, wherein he was chained with 20 locks and thrown into a hige burning haystack. He came out of the flames after releasing himself from the chains, unscratched. This stunt was followed by blindfolded bike rides in the city, covering 21 kilometres from Hari Hara Kala Bhavan via Sangeet Theatre, Mettuguda, Tarnaka, OU campus, RTC X Roads, Koti, Nampally, Tank Bund, Ranigunj and Paradise, back to Hari Hara Kala Bhavan. The stunt was performed to highlight safe driving and create traffic awareness.
Jadugar Anand is the President of the All-India Magic Federation, which has nearly 60,000 members from among professional and amateur magicians and magic lovers. He has over 28,000 shows to his credit, all over the world. A professional for 36 years, Anand has travelled far and wide. Over the years he has innovated a lot of tricks and earned the reputation of being the fastest magician in the world.
Anand hails from Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh. He learnt hypnotism from spiritual guru Rajneesh (Osho), who also hails from the same place. He learnt magic at the age of 7, apparently inspired by street magicians, who used to get him laddoos from nowhere.
Anand has performed many new magic tricks, including making the Statue of Liberty and the Taj Mahal disappear, making an elephant appear from thin air, and bringing characters of movies alive from the screen and sending them back. During the month-long show, get to see some stunning tricks from the colorful mayalok of the Jadugar.