5 Times Indian Film & Music Took Cues From Michael Jackson

American actor, singer and Michael Jackson's nephew Jaafar Jackson recently made his acting debut in the biggest way possible — by playing his uncle, The King of Pop himself. The new biopic directed by Antoine Fuqua, follows Michael's journey from his early years with the Jackson 5 to becoming one of the most influential pop stars in the world. The film recreates some of his most iconic tracks like 'Billie Jean,' 'Thriller,' and 'Beat It', with Jaafar performing them himself. The reviews have been mixed, with many feeling that the film turns his life into a cleaned-up, almost myth-like version of events, sidestepping the more uncomfortable and dramatic parts of his story, but most agree that Jaafar’s performance, especially in the musical sequences, makes it a must watch.

I haven't seen the film yet but before we knock it down with our hyper-critical cinephilia, might I suggest looking into our own backyards, at how we borrowed and interpreted Michael's legacy in both earnest and unserious ways? Here are 5 times MJ's influence found its way into to Indian music & cinema:

Ganesh Hegde is an Indian singer, performer, and choreographer who became known in the late 1990s and 2000s for his pop music videos with stage-heavy dance style like in Main Deewana and Aaja Nachle. Ganesh was heavily inspired by Michael Jackson and has credited him as a major influence on his career, especially in terms of dance moves, styling, and larger-than-life video productions. He even choreographed the opening act for Jackson’s 1996 concert in Mumbai. Ganesh has often said Jackson pushed him towards creating music and dance with high 'shock value' and trend-setting fashion, and his own music projects have been described as direct odes to the King of Pop. He has also spoken about meeting Jackson backstage during the Mumbai concert, calling it “the best 30 seconds of his life.”

Ganesh Acharya is a Bollywood choreographer who started working very young as a dancer and assistant after his father passed away, growing up in Mumbai slums and building his way up in the industry. He became especially well known for his long-standing collaboration with Govinda in the 1990s, whom he credits for his career. The two defined an era of energetic, mass-appealing songs like Husn Hai Suhana and Main Toh Raste Se Ja Raha Tha from Coolie No. 1 with their bouncy, comical but charming hook steps. Over the years, he has also choreographed many spicy dance numbers like Beedi Jalaile (Omkara), Chikni Chameli (Agneepath), Tattad Tattad (Ram-Leela), and Oo Antava (Pushpa: The Rise). The end credits track from Krazzy 4 (2008), featuring Hrithik Roshan, was heavily inspired by Michael Jackson.

Bosco and Caesar are a choreographer duo who started out as background dancers in Mumbai before building their own company and moving into film choreography. They became known for clean, stylised, Western-influenced dance in Bollywood and have worked on a lot of big commercial songs with actors like Hrithik Roshan and Katrina Kaif. They are especially known for polished, high-production dance numbers and strong visual staging, with songs like Senorita( Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, 2011), a National Award-winning routine with Spanish-inspired choreography. Talking about the title track of Bang Bang! (2014), the reference for the choreography was Michael Jackson, which Hrithik Roshandescribed when he said, “when Bosco and Sid said ‘Michael Jackson’… I did it for my love for him in my own style,” Hrithik told the Indian Express.

Farah Khan is a veteran Bollywood choreographer and filmmaker who started her career in the early 1990s, with Pehla Nasha (Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar) becoming her breakthrough and establishing her in the industry with its slow-motion movements. She went on to choreograph some of the most recognisable songs in Hindi cinema, including Chaiyya Chaiyya (Dil Se..), known for dancers performing on a moving train, Ek Pal Ka Jeena (Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai), which became a youth phenomenon for its signature step, Sheila Ki Jawani (Tees Maar Khan), and Munni Badnaam Hui (Dabangg), both major high-energy item numbers. She also choreographed Dard-E-Disco (Om Shanti Om), one of India’s first male item songs. Her work is known for large-scale group choreography and strong visual concepts like in Om Shanti Om among others. Her choreography for Nonsense Ki Night was "...a sort of tribute to my guru Michael Jackson… Check out the Thriller-inspired costumes and steps,” Farah told the Indian Express.

The track Golimar from Donga (1985), directed by A. Kodandarami Reddy and starring Chiranjeevi, is India's version of "I think I downloaded the wrong Michael Jackson movie". With almost the same concept as MJ's Thriller, the song, choreographed by Sundaram Master, featured, zombies and that iconic red outfit, embracing the camp aesthetics of the 80s. The track itself became hugely popular at the time and is still remembered as a standout example of how directly global pop culture, especially Michael Jackson, was being adapted into Indian cinema.

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