Here I do not stand

I’m not the light of the world

I do not feel grand

Got this love I can not feel

And I know yes for sure it is not real

The first rehearsal footage of the ‘This Is It’ concert was shown on CNN when people across the world were still trying to figure out what killed Michael Jackson. The footage, in a way, was also to serve as proof from the promoters of the concert, AEG, that the star was fit enough to perform in 50 concerts lined up for him. But then, he died. ‘This Is It’, the movie released on Wednesday across the globe, however, blows the lid off the very fact that it was to conceal.

Despite a lot of cheering and dancing in theatre lobbies as the movie played in cities of various countries around the world, including India, there was a certain sadness associated with the film. MJ trying too hard to keep up with other dancers was sad, because he was the one to have inspired all of them to dance. He keeps saying throughout the film that he is just warming up and that they should not make him sing, but he is out of breath at the end of each song.

MJ needed the concert to make a comeback and pay off his massive debt. But he wanted only 10 shows; the promoters pushed for 50.

Not everyone is happy with the film and its promoters. An angry group of fans has started a campaign, titled ‘This Is Not It’, to protest against the film. They say the promoters pushed MJ too hard and the very drugs that were used to keep him relaxed became the cause of his death. They say the film is a distorted account of his last days.

Kenny Ortega, the director of the film, calls it “Michael’s gift to his fans” and a chance to see the genius at work.

The film, however, was meant to be for Michael Jackson’s personal collection. If there was anything that he wanted to gift his fans, it was a book — a concert souvenir. According to Deepak Chopra, who worked with MJ in compiling the book, it contained pictures, short fables about animals and his love for music. The Aesopian project was called ‘Dancing the Dream’.

Back in July, all tickets for the concert in O2 Arena in London were sold out, but no one got to watch it. Michael was gone, but there had to be some way to compensate for all that had gone into the rehearsals. And since the public was now even more eager to see anything even remotely related to MJ’s dream concert, the film was conceived.

AEG had over 100 hours of video footage of the rehearsals. Sony Pictures bought the rights to the videos and distributed ‘This Is It’ to theatres worldwide.

Expecting a mad rush of people wanting to watch the film, made from a careful choice of the footage, the bookings opened a month before it hit theatres. As was expected, a mad rush to buy tickets followed.

In India, however, the story is different. Sony Pictures Entertainment released ‘This Is It’ in about 150 screens, but even on the eve of release the buzz was sorely missing. Surprisingly, many, including musicians, dancers and even media persons, were either not aware of the film or were not sure when it was being released.

Prabhudeva’s manager and spokesperson was confused over the date of release. Contemporary rock bands like Them Clones were clueless too. Jazz maestro Louiz Banks was not aware of the film before Financial Chronicle called to ask if he was watching it.

First day, first show was a damp squib. No house full anywhere.

Ferzad Palia, associate general manager of international music channel VH1, rues, “For the last living moments of a legend like Jackson, there could have been greater excitement.”

Devang Sampath, vice-president of Cinemax, an entertainment company, clarifies: “Because we don’t make much profit on Hollywood movies, we cannot spend much on advertisements either. But visibility at multiplexes has been good and sales will pick up once tickets are available over the counter. Online bookings never happen even for Sharukh Khan’s movies.”

Tushar Dhingra, chief operating officer of Reliance Media Works, says, “There is a very strong ‘want to see’ response for the film. But it is for a very niche audience and the business viability is doubtful.”

The film may well target a niche audience but when MJ came to India, he had stopped his cavalcade to play with slum children. Even before high fliers like Shobhaa De got to shake the ‘orgasmic’ handshake with the King of Pop, slum dogs had got the best of him.

Bappi Lahiri is a diehard MJ fan. He met the King when he came to Mumbai and was among the few who attended his funeral at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. He wrote ‘Don’t Say Goodbye’ in memory of MJ and recorded the song in Hollywood. Now the Indian disco king is burning the midnight oil for a concert tribute to MJ in India and abroad. On the eve of the film’s release, he said he was taking his entire family to watch the last moments of his inspiration.

Jazzman Banks says, “He (MJ) was a genius but such a troubled soul. And his troubled soul existed beneath an incredibly calm exterior and soft disposition.” In the movie, Michael is extremely soft spoken. When he is not satisfied with the band he orders them in the politest way possible. “When that door opens, start the piano. God bless you.”

He expresses music in emotions like ‘dragging yourself out of bed’, ‘basking in the moonlight’ and ‘let it simmer’. Without doubt MJ felt his music, everyone in the film vouched for it.

“From his pain came great music. Banks quotes an unknown jazz musician saying, ‘If you haven’t lived it, it won’t come out of your horn.’”

Ortega’s film reveals one thing for sure. Had MJ lived to perform the concert it would have overwhelmed the world. The sheer number of artistes involved and 3D effects would have lifted MJ back to the top. But above all, MJ’s message for his dream concert — ‘save the earth’ — might have caught the attention of the world.

The special effects in Earth Song, where an innocent child sleeps with butterflies in a forest, only to wake up to the droning of a relentless bulldozer that drives straight to her and on to the stage, could have possibly been the theme image for the green warriors’ meet in Copenhagen. Who knows? MJ clubbed ‘The Man in the Mirror’ for everyone angry with the establishment and its leaders who do nothing to save the planet. “I’m gonna make a change, for once in my life, I’m starting with the man in the mirror.”

In the death of Michael, we just didn’t lose a superstar but an advocate who could spread the message of love, peace and climate change with his songs and dance. Or, at least that’s what the last moments of the King seemed to say.