For most music composers and choreographers of Kollywood, a mention of Michael Jackson’s death receives loud silence as the response.
Wacko Jacko is their first mentor, they all say in unison, and his death, is an insufferable loss.
Michael Jackson may never have featured in anything close to a Kollywood film, but the industry never forgets to pay its respects to him. In fact, many films and filmmakers often evoke his image as the symbol of the 1980s, when his album Thriller showed the world what magic music could do.
Tributes to Michael Jackson have been paid in regular and large measure by the industry. If Suriya in Vaaranam Aayiram was to be shown as a music-loving youngster of the eighties, what better way to do it than making him dress up and sway like Wacko Jacko in the number ‘Ethi Ethi’? SJ Suryah, likewise, imitated the Pop legend in his forgettable Anbe Aaruyire, much to the criticism f rom the media, both in the film and in his exclusive publicity stills.
But it is not just popular actors who have imitated the music legend, as comedians and their acts invoking MJ’s name are equally popular.
Most recently, Vadivelu’s introductory scene in Vijay-starrer Villu, with the actor singing Jacko’s ‘I Just Can’t Stop Loving You’ was highly popular.
The film, interestingly, was directed by Prabhu Deva, and it is said that the director wanted this song in his film, as it was one of his favourites.
Yet another mention of MJ comes in one of Vadivelu’s most popular early films, Singaravelan, which saw him dressed to resemble the Pop King. In fact, the film even had a dialogue in which he was jocularly introduced as Michael Jackson’s sibling.
Along similar lines was Vivekh’s comic act in the film Lovel y, i n which he would idolise Jacko, dressing up l i ke him and keeping his posters in his room. The film might have been a complete washout, but Vivekh’s comic track, is still highly popular.
Any reference to Michael Jackson in Tamil cinema is incomplete without a reference to Prabhu Deva.
His imitation of the music genius, from his earliest films like Kadhalan, is legendary, and has won his the title of South India’s Michael Jackson.
A two-time national Award winner, Prabhudeva, with his lightninglike movements, makes no bones about replicating MJ’s movements.
He might not have been the most successful hero, but he is still popular across the country as our best choreographer.
If imitation stills holds as the best form of inspiration, a reference to Michael Jackson goes incomplete without music composer Deva’s name. The composer has shown his liking for the legend, through his blockbuster hit like Kushi, in which the song Mottu Ondru, was clearly inspired by MJ’s ‘Why You Wanna Trip On Me’, to quote an instance
PRABHUDEVA
“Michael Jackson is one of the biggest reasons for me to be the dancer that I am today. He inspired me like nobody else and I am shocked by his death.
People here do refer to me as the Michael Jackson of India, but I don’t know how to react to it. It doesn’t matter anymore given that he is dead now.
I still recall the time I got to spend with him when I met him in Mumbai. It happened, thanks to the efforts of Anupam Kher. We couldn’t talk much, nor did I get to perform on stage with him.
Yet, it is one of the most memorable days of my life”
Actor Bharath:
MJ has inspired an entire generation. He was one of the biggest reasons for me to want to learn dance professionally, going to the Swingers Academy. Films happened only after that. In fact, I remeember having won many prizes in culturals and otherwise, with his songs. Listen to his music, and you will automatically shake a leg, try to be like him.
He inspired everybody, kids and elders alike. One of his most remarkable features is his ability to dance even as he sings. His death has shocked me.
MUSIC Composer AR Rahman was unavailable for a quote as he is currently in Los Angeles. MJ and Rahman have known each other, apart from performing in Michael Jackson and Friends concert in 1999. They also worked on a single, Ekam Satyam, directed by Bharatbala. MJ once wore a T Shirt that had ARR’s picture on it with the words ‘Salute to You’. MJ was also among the other celebrities to have personally congratualted AR Rahman on winning the Oscars.
Gautham Menon
Anybody belonging to our generation is bound to be hooked to MJ’s music. And with me being in my teens, there was definitely no escaping it. And that is just why I wanted Suriya to do an MJ-act for a song in our film Vaaranam Aayiram, which is inspired by my life.
GV PRAKASH:
MJ is such a legend that it’s impossible to not be inspired by him. In fact, when I was working on Kireedam, starring Ajith and Trisha, I thought Ajith’s introductory song should be captivating and rebellious like MJ’s ‘All I Wanna Say Is’. That was how Ajith’s introductory song ‘Vilayaadu Vilayaadu’
Kanika Myer, director:
MJ loved anything that was Indian and had told his friend Hinduja he wanted to do an Indian song. We spoke to Rahman and he composed the song titled Ekam Satyam. He loved the song. He is a very simple, touching person. It’s impossible to believe he is no more.