Michael Jackson – A TRIBUTE TO THE KING OF POP

Bollywood News : On 25th of June 2009 the world lost one of its greatest entertainers – Michael Jackson, an everlasting icon of a human being. In a bid to pay a fitting tribute, Shah Rukh Khan has roped in the top stars of Bollywood to produce a music video. Names like Shahid Kapoor to Vishal-Shekhar are involved while some of the best singers in the industry – Shankar Mahadevan, Shaan, KK and Shreya Ghoshal have consented to lend their voices to the project.

The plan is to launch the music video titled ‘Make it Large – A tribute to Michael Jackson’ on Jackson’s 51st birthday on the 29th of August 2009.

‘For the moment, the idea is to launch the music video across all music channels just for one day. It is available on Red Chillies Entertainment website though,’ said Vishal who is also wrote the lyrics for the songs and is currently holidaying in London.

Aug. 29th ‘09 onwards, free download of the song will also be allowed by Vishal and Shekhar on their website.

‘Make it Large – A tribute to Michael Jackson’ is being directed by Samar Khan and features personal testimonials on Michael Jackson by Shah Rukh Khan himself as well as Hrithik Roshan, Shahid Kapoor, Katrina Kaif, Anushka Sharma, Priyanka Chopra and Yuvraj Singh.

Making the video extra special is Prabhu Deva at his dancing best for his mentor.

The video wasn’t created for making money. It’s a tribute and so let us grab a copy of the song for ourselves and share our sentiments with the rest of the world.

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Hrithik's tribute to Michael Jackson

Hrithik Roshan seems to be in a sombre mood of late. The actor was busy shooting for an ad in Singapore when his dancing inspiration Michael Jackson passed away. Of course, the actor grieved deeply. Hrithik adored the King of Pop. And when we called him up, there was little he could say. “It’s unbelievable, it hasn’t yet sunk it!” he told us. “He was an inspiration to every entertainer. People wanted to become dancers just by watching Michael Jackson him perform. ‘Thriller’ was my absolute favourite, and still is... ”

Hrithik Roshan’s sister, Sunaina, shared with us, “Hrithik has been a die-hard fan of Michael Jackson since he was a child. Hrithik must be 8-9 years old when he used to imitate Jackson’s moonwalk. I remember the moment ‘Thriller’ used to play Hrithik used to be up doing a Michael Jackson. It was Michael Jackson’s music videos that introduced Hrithik to western dancing. Hrithik used to do a Michael Jackson whichever party he went to.”

But in showbiz... the ball keeps rolling, and the show must go on... “And Michael Jackson, too, will continue to live in every beat of music,” concludes Hrithik.

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Michael rebuilt face to not look like his “bullying” dad

Late King of Pop Michael Jackson reportedly did not want to look like his “bullying” dad, and that is why he bleached his skin and butchered his face with surgery.

Jackson’s pal John Randy Taraborrelli, a journalist who has known him for 40 years, has revealed that he was petrified he would grow into an identical version of Joe.

Taraborrelli’s statement has come at a time when, amid speculation over whether Jacko really fathered his three children, rumours have started to circulate that the star’s hatred of his violent dad stopped him from reproducing, as he feared they would look like their grandfather.

Taraborrelli, 53, said that Jackson was traumatised by regular beatings from his dad, now 79.

“His motive for cosmetic surgery was not, as many surmised, too look more like his idol Diana Ross,” the Daily Star quoted him as saying.

“It was so that he would look less like his father – the man who had so mistreated him and whose strong, broad-nosed face he saw looking back at him from the mirror,” he added.

As Joe managed his kids to success as The Jackson 5, he would punish anyone fluffing up in rehearsals for big shows.

Since Michael led the group, he inevitably took most of the flak.

“The violence worsened as the boys got older and the music business became their life,” Taraborrelli said.

“When he was late for one rehearsal, Joseph came up from behind and shoved him. Michael fell and was badly bruised.

“Michael was spirited enough to fight back, once he hurled a shoe at his father but Joseph screamed: ‘Boy, you just signed your own death warrant.’

“He then held Michael upside down by one leg and pummelled him over and over,” he added.

However, said the journalist, Jackon’s obsession with surgery ruined his looks.

Taraborrelli said: “His appearance was becoming increasingly bizarre. He had also begun using a skin-bleaching cream, which he bought by the crate. Gone was the brown-skinned, broad-nosed youth with an

Afro whose natural charisma charmed an audience.”

The journalist added: “In his place was a fragile, doll-like man it was impossible not to stare at in disbelief. He had achieved his goal of transforming himself, but at a barely imaginable price. In the public’s eyes, all this made him not only a freak but a joke.”

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Michael Jackson to be buried on July 7

Fans will not be able to get inside venue

The last rites of pop legend Michael Jackson, who died following cardiac arrest last week, would be conducted in Los Angeles next Tuesday (July 7), according to thesun.co.uk.

The funeral will be held at Los Angeles' Staples Center, which is owned by AEG Live, the event management company behind the singer's comeback tour at London's O2 arena.

Proceedings of Jackson's funeral will begin at 10 a.m.

According to sources, AEG will put up gigantic screens outside the facility for the thousands of fans who will not be able to get inside to see the funeral proceedings.

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MJ ‘Survived On One Meal A Day’

Anxious singer would often ‘forget to eat’

MICHAEL JACKSON was so worried about his looming comeback tour he often forgot to eat, according to the show's promoter.

The King Of Pop was booked to do 50 gigs at London's O2 arena, kicking off later this month and running into next year, and was in vigorous rehearsals for the spectacular shows before his death last week.

The show's director Kenny Ortega and AEG Live's boss Randy Phillips were keeping an eye on the star's food intake in the days leading up to his death - and they were shocked by how little Jackson was eating as he geared up for the mammoth run of gigs.

Phillips tells Britain's Daily Mirror, "He used to forget to eat because he was so focused and Kenny Ortega and I used to cut up his food and physically feed him."

But Phillips is adamant Jackson was fighting fit - despite his erratic eating habits.

He adds, "Frail, he certainly wasn't. He was always very thin but not to the point where he couldn't perform. He really kicked into high gear and was totally engaged in the last two weeks. Before that he was nervous and not really coming to rehearsals. But that was his schedule and that was how he wanted to do things.

"Michael did not have a gruelling schedule - he had Michael's schedule. He didn't need to rehearse that much. He was so talented that he didn't need to. When he started dancing, he was dancing better than the best 20 year old dancers in the world. He was that good."

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Last Pics Of Michael Alive!

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Jackson Death - More Mystery

Why did his entourage call his father before 911?

MICHAEL JACKSON's entourage waited for up to 50 minutes to call emergency services after he collapsed, it has been claimed.

Jackson biographer Stacy Brown has spoken to the King of Pop's family since his sudden death on Thursday, and reveals their concern at the delay.

Brown claims the star collapsed in the living room of his rented California home at 11.30am local time, but instead of calling 911, his security guard Tippy called Jackson's father Joseph, while his doctor Conrad Murray administered CPR.

He tells the New York Post, "Joseph screamed at them to call for help. A huge commotion ensued about why 911 wasn't being called and why he wasn't getting help."

Emergency services were eventually called at 12.21pm. Jackson was declared dead at UCLA Medical Center at 2.26pm, but it has been reported that he was already dead when paramedics arrived on the scene.

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Bollywood's Generation X remembers Michael Jackson

Majority of them have been known for their dance moves. And most of them have been inspired by the 'King of Pop'. Generation X remembers Michael Jackson as he takes a journey to the heavenly abode.

Hurman Baweja - "I can't believe he is no more. It's too much of a shock. I was looking forward to seeing him on stage in London in August. For me he will always be alive. I have seen him live on stage before, I hear him practically everyday either in my car or on my iPod. He is my dancing Guru whom I have watched and learnt from. He is a genius. Here is to a Legend. May his soul rest in peace! He will be missed!"

Celina Jaitly - "It's shocking. I was planning to go for his last concert to London. I have been a die hard fan and I still can't believe that he is gone."

Neha Dhupia - "I am sad beyond belief. It's the biggest loss ever for the world of music and entertainment. There will never be anyone else like him."

Eesha Koppikhar - "You created history with your music. I will always remember you as the 'King of Pop'. As rightly stated by all the news channels, 25th June will always be remembered as a black day in the world of music."

Mugdha Godse - "Words fail to express my feelings. I still can't believe the news."

Neil Nitin Mukesh - "The man who taught the world to dance has left us with his memories. It's a great loss!"

Mahie Gill - "His death is indeed an irreparable loss to the world of music."

Neetu Chandra - "Michael Jackson's demise is an end of an era. With him, a part of music is dead."

Linda Aresenio - "Dearest Michael Jackson, we are all definitely hit deeply that you left so soon. You have truly impacted and inspired our lives across the globe. You have built a bridge among family, friends and cultures though your music and dance. You are a legend among the greats. God bless you always and forever. We will always love and miss you."

Priyanka Kothari - "It's hard to believe that he is no more. I am feeling so depressed ever since I heard this sad news. Michael's music and dance will never die."

Payal Rohatgi - "I consider Michael's sad demise as a great loss to the music lovers like me. He was truly the 'king of pop' and dying at an age of 50 is very shocking. I hope his soul rests in peace. We shall always remember his blockbuster hit 'Thriller'!"

Madhavan - "Oh God, it's hard to believe. It's the end of an era; beginning of immortality!"

Sanjay Suri - "It's sad to know that the 'King of Pop' is no more. He is the man who started it all. He ruled the 80s and the 90s and raised the bar through his great LIVE shows, amazing pop music and videos. It's sad to know that the world's greatest entertainer is no more. He surely will be missed."

Udita Goswami - "May his soul rest in peace. He wasn't the icon he used to be anymore after all the mess he got into. He was still trying to get out of it though. Maybe this was the time. His music will always be missed. And yes, there won't be another Michael Jackson ever!"

Chitrangda Singh - "I am surprisingly much more affected than I thought I could be by the demise of a star. I am crying in my heart. It's all the memories he has given us. He was a rare genius. Wish we could save him!"

Adhyayan Suman - "The 'King of Pop' is no more but nobody will ever be able to replace Michael Jackson. He was the best. May his soul rest in peace!"
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Michael Jackson’s shocking autopsy report

Family and fans will be horrified by his appalling state

The autopsy details of pop star Michael Jackson gives a horrifying picture of the singer at the time of his death - he was a virtual skeleton as he was barely eating, there were only pills in his stomach. He was bald, bruised and also had broken ribs and needle wounds.

His hips, thighs and shoulders were riddled with needle wounds believed to be the result of injections of narcotic painkillers, given three times a day for years.

And multiple surgery scars were said to be the legacy of at least 13 cosmetic operations. Experts found the distressing evidence of Jackson's physical decline while investigating his startling death in Los Angeles last week, reported thesun.co.uk.

The examination showed the 5'10" star, once famed for his on-stage athleticism, had plunged to a "severely emaciated" state. It is understood anorexic Jackson had been eating just one meagre meal a day.

Pathologists found his stomach empty aside from partially-dissolved pills he took before the painkiller injection which stopped his heart. Samples were sent for toxicology tests.

Having lost virtually all his hair, the pop legend was wearing a wig when he died and pathologists said little more than "peach fuzz" covered his scalp.

A scarred section of skin above his left ear was entirely bald, apparently the result of a 1984 accident when his hair caught fire as he filmed an ad for Pepsi.

Jackson suffered several broken ribs as frantic rescuers pumped his chest after he collapsed in cardiac arrest. Four injection sites were found above or near the King of Pop's heart. All appeared to result from attempts to pump adrenaline directly into the organ in a failed bit to restart it.

Three of the injections had penetrated the heart wall causing damage, but a fourth missed and hit one of the 50-year-old star's ribs.

The autopsy also found unexplained bruising on Jackson's knees and on the fronts of both shins. And there were cuts on his back, indicating a recent fall.

Jackson's once handsome face bore a network of plastic surgery scars, while the bridge to his nose had vanished and its right side had partially collapsed.

As inquiries into the tragedy focussed on the star's personal physician Conrad Murray, a source close to the Jackson entourage said: "Michael's family and fans will be horrified when they realise the appalling state he was in. His doctors and the hangers-on stood by as he self-destructed. Somebody is going to have to pay."

Murray, a cardiologist, was thought to have given Jackson the final injection of painkiller Demerol.

A second autopsy demanded by the Jackson family was carried out at a secret location on Saturday after the first ruled out foul play.

Murray was hired just 11 days ago by AEG Live, the firm masterminding Jackson's 50 concerts at London's O2 Arena, earlier scheduled to start next month.

Sources claimed the family was preparing a multi-million-dollar lawsuit against the cardiologist.

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'I cannot believe it! MJ no more'

After many national and international celebrities, Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra is the latest to have taken to social networking website Twitter in a big way.

"Priyanka has recently taken to Twitter and she is quite regular as she updates her account at least once a day," a source close to the actress told IANS.

The Twitter page of the actress, who created waves with her performance in "Fashion" and "Dostana", can be found on www.twitter.com/priyankachopra.

The latest updates by Priyanka also include her feelings on pop icon Michael Jackson's demise Thursday.

"I cannot believe it! MJ no more... He was the reason I started loving music. Thank you MJ the inspiration for all of us. The true king of pop," wrote Priyanka, who is a good singer herself.

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MJ was a special soul

Shilpa Shetty says she’s a huge fan of Michael Jackson

Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty, a die-hard fan of King of Pop Michael Jackson, says she was taken aback at the news of the singer's demise but his music will immortalise him.

"I woke up to the most devastating news of Michael Jackson passing away. I just sank in my chair... words can't express my emotions because I am a huge huge fan of his.

"He was an icon who lead an extraordinary life. I admired him for constantly reinventing himself and for converting me into a pop lover after 'Thriller'. His music will immortalise him," the actress posted on her blog. Jackson died on Thursday (June 25) due to a cardiac arrest in his Los Angeles home.

Shilpa got to know the legend's brother Jermaine during her stint on Britain's reality show "Big Brother" and says that she was lucky to hear a lot about Jackson from him.

"I was lucky to hear a lot about him from Jermaine who I got to know closely in the Big Brother house. It was sad how the press mercilessly shred him over issues that he got acquitted for at a later stage! He was a special soul - god’s chosen one - there can never be another MJ," she added.

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For MJ's Indian fans, he lives forever

Country mourns musical genius

From tears to tributes, fans of the 'King of Pop' Michael Jackson across India mourned the musical genius who captured their imagination with his music and his persona.

"Micheal was the best. He will live in our hearts forever. No matter what injustice has been done upon him, he will continue to be a legend and the best in the world of music," Mumbai-based professor Shalini Iyer told IANS.

Another fan, Bhavan Kher, who is also from the financial capital of India, says she can never refer to the music genius in past tense.

"Micheal Jackson is not a musician, he is an era. He is someone who broke all the conventions and gave the world soul corroding music as well as beats that are unmatched to date. He is god. I will never associate the word 'was' with him. Micheal Jackson will only be an 'is' for me and for millions of music lovers around the world," she said.

For 22-year-old Nidhi Arora, "music died yesterday" when Jackson, 50, breathed his last after suffering cardiac arrest at his home in Los Angeles, US.

"Along with a lot of my friends, I have grown up dancing to 'Thriller'. I've had my best performances dancing to his numbers. I was eagerly awaiting his comeback July 13, but he left without a warning. There is never going to be another Michael Jackson. We loved him and always will," said Arora, a Delhi based advertising professional.

Jackson's connection with India grew stronger when he came down to Mumbai in October 1996 for a live performance as part of his 'History' tour.

People from all strata - whether celebrities like Anupam Kher and Shobha De or urchins from nearby slums - all gave Jackson a hearty welcome.

He caused mass hysteria with his enigma back then and will continue to do so with his music even now.

Joyeeta Sablok, who is from Kolkata and a die-hard Jackson fan, was one among the thousands who wanted to attend the singer's concert, but couldn't. Recalling the time, she said: "He (Jackson) came to India, but my parents didn't let me go to his concert."

"I'll regret it forever. I will never forget how my heart would miss a beat every time they flashed the 'Black or White' video on TV channels. It was magical. He seemed to do something different with every single album."

Jackson's most popular numbers "Black Or White", "Thriller", "Beat It" and "Earth Song" have been cherished over the years by all and sundry.

On his death, 35-year-old Pallavi Muni had a school-time memory to share.

"I remember, more than 22 years ago, when my school had its annual function, one of the biggest draws was a dance number with MJ's song 'Bad'. There were some 50 girls in the group. The man himself would never have imagined it - a bunch of giggly girls in a convent school in India, matching steps with every beat of his smash hit song," said Muni, who studied in Delhi but is now based in Bangalore.

"Maybe I've just grown older, but I don't think they make pop icons like him anymore," she added.

Ravi Kumar, an official of pub Styx in Bangalore, which will pay tribute to Jackson Friday evening, told IANS: "We'll pay tribute to Michael Jackson, the legend, and his music Friday evening. Our regular guests are in touch with us and in the evening everyone will come together to pay tribute to the musical genius."

"We'll miss Jackson the man, but we'll always remember him for his chartbuster numbers. We all love Michael Jackson," said Sumit P., an IT professional and regular visitor at Styx.

Rishabh P. Nair, a diehard Jackson fan from Chennai, said: No matter what people say about him, he was and will always be the king of pop. The magic of songs like 'Thriller' can never be recreated. I hope his soul rests in peace. He will be missed."

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Michael Jackson's Children Devastated

Youngsters said to be inconsolable – but what will happen to them without their father

The death of Michael Jackson is said to have left his three young children distraught.

The King Of Pop is survived by Prince Michael, 12, Paris, 11, and seven-year-old Prince Michael II, known fondly by the singer as Blanket.

His sudden death is expected to spark a frought legal battle over who gets custody of his three children.

The singer was pronounced dead aged 50 at a hospital in Los Angeles last night. He was taken there in a coma following his collapse at home.

It is not yet known who will take care of them, but a source close to his family said his ex-wife Debbie Rowe is expected to receive initial custody while long-term arrangements are sorted out.

Nor is it clear what their financial situation will be. Although Jackson ranked alongside the Beatles and Elvis Presley in terms of his earnings, in recent years it has been rumoured he had amassed huge debts of an estimated $60million.

He had planned a series of comeback concerts at London's O2 Arena, which would have cleared his debts.

Prince Michael and Paris were the product of Jackson's second marriage to Rowe, a nurse, in 1996.

After the couple divorced in 1999, Jackson took on sole responsibility for their children's upbringing.

There was some controversy surrounding the move and questions were asked as to whether Rowe would receive access rights.

But he was quoted as saying she was happy togive up the children to Michael completely, saying: "They're his kids, not mine. They're his kids".

Michael was so fiercely protective of them he took an unusual approach to protecting them from the media glare by covering their faces.

His third child, Prince Michael II, was born to a mystery surrogate mother he never even met.

Earlier this month, Michael was photographed with his two older children in Los Angeles looking healthier than he has in recent months. His sudden and tragic death has sent shockwaves across the world.

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'Jai Ho, MJ!' says Rahman

"Jai Ho, MJ!" said Oscar winner A.R. Rahman, for whom pop legend Michael Jackson symbolised limitless energy, perfection and vision, while the death of his "role model" has left dancing star Prabhu Deva numb.

"MJ, for most of our generation, was an icon who made uncompromising music. He pushed the milestone of pop music to unbelievable levels through the 80s and 90s. I am yet to find an artist with that energy, perfection and vision," said Rahman, who had recently met the pop superstar following the Oscar awards.

"I met him personally after the Oscars in Los Angeles and we vibed very well. He said that he loved India and the Indian people. He said he heard good things about me and he was praising the chord progression of 'Jai Ho's' chorus.

"He was bursting with energy and told me that every dance move he did came from his soul and did a five second stunning example. It was like a lightning strike," the composer recalled.

"He was concerned about developmental issues such as global warming and about wars and its damages to the human community. He asked me to compose a unity anthem on the likes of 'We are the World' for him. I nodded in awe ...!" Rahman added.

"I remember my late sound engineer Sridhar had brought me a video of the premiere of 'Remember the Time' when I was recording 'Kadal Rojave' for my first movie Roja. Seeing it inspired all of us that afternoon," he said.

In a philosophical note, Rahman concluded his condolence statement: "Life is short..! Artists and their art live for ever. Jai Ho, MJ ! We love you for your music, regardless of all the controversies!"

The 50-year-old singing sensation died Thursday following a cardiac arrest at his home in Los Angeles, leaving millions of his fans around the world stunned.
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World mourns Michael Jackson's death

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King of Pop Michael Jackson dies at age 50

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Michael Jackson was my guru: Farah Khan

As an era in pop music comes to an end with the sudden death of Michael Jackson, one of the Bollywood best choreographers Farah Khan remembers the' King of Pop'as her guru.

"I officially had no training in dance and whatever I learnt was from watching Michael Jackson by watching his videos, especially'Thriller' over and over again. I consider him as my guru," Farah said.

Jackson died Thursday in Los Angeles due to suspected cardiac arrest. He was 50. Farah said that she heard the news today as she landed in Los Angeles to meet Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan who is shooting in LA for Karan Johar's'My Name Is Khan'.

"I have just landed here to meet Shahrukh. I reached in the hotel and got to know about the sad news. It has not sunk in yet. It is still to sink in that he is no more," Farah said. Farah remembers the'Thriller' hitmaker as"one who revolutionised the way we look at dancing today" also recalled her encounter with the pop superstar in New York at a Bollywood awards night." I had a won an award at the ceremony and Michael Jackson was also getting an award for his humanitarian works.

The organisers knew how crazy I was for him so they did take me to backstage to meet him. I have a picture with him which I will cherish all my life. I told him that I am choreographer and that is just because of him," Farah told CNN-IBN.

"I thought I would retire after I choreograph Michael Jackson,"she added.
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A look back at Michael Jackson

As a teenager chasing pop music in 1980, it was always a tough ask to get our hands on new music back then. Me? I knew someone who knew someone who was cabin crew with Air India so there would be LPs filtering in every now and then. “Have you heard Michael Jackson”? she asked.

“Never” I replied, instinctively picturing a young white dude, maybe like David Cassidy. “But did you get my Billy Joel LP?” I asked.

“Forget Billy Joel, this guy is much better” she said, as she gave me a copy of ‘Off The Wall’.

Oh no! It’s a black dude! “So, is it like Pink Floyd’s The Wall” I enquired.

She smirked, told me I would thank her tomorrow, and left.

I have to admit that I was attracted to disco music for an extremely short time and playing ‘Off The Wall’ was socially embarrassing for me in 1980. For someone into The Police, REO Speedwagon and Floyd, the gender-bender Jackson vibe was just too cold. Plus, where are the guitars man? With just a single spin, the LP was back in its smiling cover, replaced by the reassuring crunch of AC/DC’s Back in Black.

Cut to 1984: Doordarshan is somehow showing western music videos once a week. The whole gang is sitting in front of the TV, dying to know what exactly our rock stars look like. Billie Jean comes on. And within 30 seconds, all of us knew we were watching something special. The loud banter suddenly died. Open mouthed we watched this matchstick man dance like no person before. And was this even a dance? Then came the moonwalk step. Shucks! How the heck did he do that? All of us are on our feet now, the TV volume was turned up and we started clapping and dancing. Of course it was over all too soon, but the man had made his mark on everyone who absorbed that video. Thriller soon occupied the cassette shelves of everybody, while one of us was even the owner of that red Michael Jackson jacket. Me? I started showing my socks, since the moonwalk was just impossible to do.

Cut to 1993: MTV was part of our life before the channel discovered Bollywood. And Michael had just released ‘Dangerous’. By now, the singer had already started spending his millions on plastic surgery, and was slowly mutating into a gender all his own. And the first single ‘Black Or White’ drove its message of racial harmony in a easily missed twist of reverse irony. Here was a black man’s body trapped in a white man’s mind who was living out his fantasy. The nose sharpened, the lips thinned and the skin lightening was a God sent ailment. What is he saying in the song? That it’s OK to alter one’s looks as long as one is a good human being? Or, as long as one is a good human being, why should a change of look matter anyway?

Cut to 1996: Encouraged by visits from Bryan Adams, Bon Jovi and er, Deep Purple, Michael Jackson’s 1996 History Tour decides to perform in Bombay and Delhi. This still is a huge event as far as rock shows go in India. As seen on You-Tube now, this is the show that blew everyone away with its so far unseen combination of choreography, sound and lasers. To really understand how big Michael Jackson was, you just have to recall that in a show of incontrovertible hypocrisy, even perennial pop-culture vigilante Bal Thackeray invited him to his place. There’s really no meatier yardstick to gauge his popularity than this, is there?

Cut to 2009: Inspite of all the allegations, public humiliation, near bankruptcy and a life where he could never blow his nose again, Michael Jackson will only be remembered for the artist he was. He was on the verge of yet another comeback attempt with a staggering 50 sold out shows starting July. He was rehearsing his legs off, recording new songs and one cannot even imagine the kind of show he would put up to prove his point. But in a sudden twist of fate, we have not only lost an entertainer who reached higher than anyone else, but an inspiration to all for whom the world is a stage.

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Bollywood mourns Michael Jackson's death

He is someone who called himself as 'Bad' and 'Dangerous', and still was loved by one and all, the world over. We are indeed talking about the one and only 'King of Pop' Michael Jackson, the very name who invented the cult 'Moon Walking' dance step. Well, the entire world came to a standstill yesterday when this musical legend breathed his last. He suffered a cardiac arrest and passed away, thus bringing the musical world to a grinding halt!

We spoke to Bollywood's eminent music directors and choreographers for their reactions to MJ's death. This is what they had to say:

Sajid (of Sajid-Wajid duo): "It is a big loss for the music industry, and he was a legend of sorts, someone who never paid heed to the image or personality, that he carried and the way we remember Bob Marley, Michael Jackson also falls in the same league. Today is by far a very mournful day for the entire music industry."

A.R. Rahman: "I am shocked at the untimely passing away of Michael Jackson, one of the greatest musicians of our times. MJ, for most of our generation was an icon who made uncompromising music. He pushed the milestone of Pop music to unbelievable levels through the 80s and 90s. I am yet to find an artist with that energy, perfection and vision. I met him personally after the Oscars in Los Angeles and we vibed very well. He said that he loved India and the Indian people. He said he heard good things about me and he was praising the chord progression of Jai Ho's chorus.

He was bursting with energy and told me that every dance move he did came from his soul and did a five second stunning example. It was like a lightning strike. He was concerned about developmental issues such as Global Warming and about wars and its damages to the human community. He asked me to compose a unity anthem on the likes of "We are the World" for him. I nodded in awe...!

He introduced me to his three lovely bright kids. The kids told him "I love you Dad". And he replied, "I love you more" as a proud father. I wished him well for his concerts and he said "God Bless you". After hearing the shocking news, I wished it was another rumor which would fade away soon. It took me time to believe that he is no more. I remember, my late sound engineer H. Sridhar had brought me a video of the premiere of 'Remember the Time' when I was recording 'Kadal Rojave' for my first movie Roja. Seeing it inspired all of us that afternoon.

Now, there is no Sridhar and no Jackson anymore. I hope all of us value people's existence more and respect them when they are alive. LIFE IS SHORT...! Artists and their art live for ever. Jai Ho, MJ! We love you for your music, regardless of all the controversies!"

Vishal Dadlani: "Goodbye, Michael Jackson. The one thing we never let you be was a human being. You went from a God to an alien to a demon. But if we remember you for anything but your music, the failing will be ours. Sorry for all the harassment, thank you for all the music."

Wajid (of Sajid-Wajid duo): "It's indeed very sad news, I was driving when I got this message from someone, I was so shocked that I actually stopped driving and started to think about the man since then. It's actually a very big loss to everyone, because all of us have grown up listening to his songs; he was a real example of a perfect singer and performer... a complete artist. I was in fact looking out for his new album that he was composing, but now everything has come to a stand still and I am at a complete loss for words."

Sukhwinder Singh: "I am totally shocked. Since the time I first heard this news, I felt a great sadness from somewhere deep within."

Jatin Pandit: "A major section of the music industry has been wiped out; he was in a class of his own. I was really fortunate enough to witness his performance when he came down to Bombay. He was a rare combination of performance and talent."

Saroj Khan: "It's a great loss to the world. He was not just a lovely dancer, but also a wonderful creator. I admired him very much. God bless his soul to rest in eternal peace."

Ganesh Hegde: "It's an extremely sad day for the whole industry. His death means a total end to the world of music and an era in itself. There's a lot of reason for the fact that I am here and am what I am today. One of the main reasons is none other than the King of Pop Michael Jackson! He is the one who showed the way to many people like me that rags can surely be transformed into riches.

I still remember the day when I had a chance to meet him just for a minute. And trust me, I must have told him 'Sir, I love you' at least 20 times in 10 seconds. He, very generously said that 'I like it'. That's the most important one minute of my life."
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