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This article was first published 15 years ago

Michael Jackson's tryst with Mumbai

June 26, 2009 15:37 IST

Image: Michael Jackson
Photographs: Jewella C Miranda
The King of Pop Michael Jackson had a tryst with Mumbai 13 years ago, when he mesmerised thousands of Mumbaikars with his performance at a concert in 1996.

Michael Jackson's tryst with Mumbai

Image: Michael Jackson and Raj Thackeray
The event was organised by Shiv Udyog Sena, an outfit floated by then Shiv Sena leader Raj Thackeray with the objective of
providing jobs to 27 lakh youth in Maharashtra.

Michael Jackson's tryst with Mumbai

Image: Sonali Bendre

The popstar arrived in Mumbai on October 30 and was greeted in traditional Indian style by Sonali Bendre, who wore a traditional Maharashtrian saree for the occasion.

The actress welcomed Jackson by performing aarti and applying tilak on his forehead, at the Mumbai airport.

Michael Jackson's tryst with Mumbai

Image: Fans line up to see Michael Jackson

The popstar, when being driven in a 20-car motorcade from the airport, stopped his Toyota to meet the urchins lined up along the highway to catch a glimpse of him.

Jackson visited Sena chief Bal Thackeray's residence, Matoshree, in Bandra, northwest Mumbai. The Thackerays presented him with a silver tabla and tanpura.

Michael Jackson's tryst with Mumbai

Image: Michael Jackson caps

During his stay at The Oberoi Hotel, Jackson surprised the entire staff by mingling freely among his fans, who thronged at the hotel to catch a glimpse of the King of Pop.

"He greeted his fans with smiles and by blowing kisses and shook hands with as many of them as possible," hotel sources recount.

Michael Jackson's tryst with Mumbai

Image: Michael Jackson with Bharat Shah and Raj Thackeray

During his stay in Mumbai, Jackson relished several Indian cuisine, including South Indian and Mughlai.

While the popstar had masala dosa and spicy alu paranthas with butter in breakfasts, his other meals mainly comprised of butter naans and spicy vegetable curries, sources in Oberoi Hotel said.

Michael Jackson's tryst with Mumbai

Image: Media surrounds Michael Jackson

Children from orphanages were invited to meet and play with him at a high tea organised at the hotel poolside. He gave them gifts and chocolates that he had brought with him. 

The hotel sources had then said there was a party for kids organised in his room as well, on the day of the show itself. About 50 children were invited and he ordered cakes and burgers for them.

Michael Jackson's tryst with Mumbai

Image: Michael Jackson
The over two-hour long performance on November 1 at the Andheri Sports Complex was a spectacular event, with fans
lapping up every moment. For the show, Jackson flew in equipment in three Russian cargo planes.

Michael Jackson's tryst with Mumbai

Image: Prabhudeva
Jackson's Mumbai tour had also triggered controversy with critics questioning Sena's notions of culture. They saw something alien in the values the singer represented and said, 'Who is Michael Jackson and how on earth is he linked to Hindu culture?'

Michael Jackson's tryst with Mumbai

Image: Michael Jackson

Bal Thackeray responded the critics saying, 'Jackson is a great artist, and we must accept him as an artist. His movements are terrific. Not many people can dance that way. You will end up breaking your bones.

'And, well, what is culture? He represents certain values in America, which India should not have any qualms in accepting. We would like to accept that part of America that is represented by Jackson,' he had said.

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