Michael Jackson.. The Man. The Legend.

It goes without saying that the spell MJ cast on countless fans goes beyond his music. It was his inner soul – innocent and pure that catapulted the Jackson 5 star into the sky. Watching MJ at his rehearsals for the ‘This Is It’ concert fills me with awe about the circumstances concerning his death. But that is not what I will be talking about.

Kevin Ortega’s simplistic yet neatly crafted motion picture is much more than documentary. It is a journey that makes me feel ‘alive’ as if watching the concert and ‘warm” for all the love and affection MJ oozes towards everyone around him, towards life. Clearly, This Is It is not an ensemble of MJ’s all time hits. Its not just another show with cheers of ‘Encore!’. It is the show of a lifetime.

MJ may have had problems. He may have struggled. But he had within him the torch of being human alive. This is it explemifies and beautifully juxtaposes the man’s inherent softness to his princely presence on stage. Afterall, he was the ‘Thriller’ man, a ‘Man in the mirror’ who asked everyone to just ‘Beat it!’ and loved everyone no matter if they were ‘Black or White’ who lived inspite of ‘Billie Jean not being his lover’ and didn’t mind if ‘They didn’t care about us’, cried to express his grief in ‘The Earth Song’ and beautifully culminated all that he had to say ‘This Is It’. MJ was, is and will always be the King of Pop!

I reveled in the extreme care and gentleness with which MJ handled himself and everyone around. He was special and he knew everyone else was special too! That in itself is a very special feeling.

At 50, his moves, his style and his grace was par excellence. Maybe he was heavily gifted. Or perhaps he gifted himself what he has. ‘Thats why we rehearse’ – he’s heard saying in the backstage footage. Yes, Sir, and that is exactly how kings and legends are created.

The world tour would have been a stupendous success. Bring tears and joy to millions of loving admirers. And give a lot of people a part of their youth back when they grew up with MJ on their lips and in their steps. Yet ‘This Is It’ is our passport to reach the sanctum sanctorum of MJ’s troupe and MJ himself. The troupe too is collection of stars. Dancers with moves that further sharpened MJ’s moves and giving his style the status of cult (of course the Moonwalk is more than cult now. Its religion!) on stage. So, are the musicians (vocalists, guitarists, drummers, percusionists and everyone in between).

The gradual unfolding of the various leaves of the show are enigmatic yet simplistic. MJ in all his glory – All he was and all he’d ever have been. May be better (coz he knew what it was to stand infront of the mirror and talk to the one staring back from the mirror).

2 hours of spellbinding music and absolutely bewitching dance moves – of and from the man who made me feel – The time of our lives was here – Right now!! THIS IS IT!

‘God Bless You!’ – MJ

A worth watch – Any day! Siddhartha