Two days after Michael Jackson died in his LA home, a top Indian TV channel, Times Now, quoted a British source as saying that Michael was still alive.
This gave a brief respite to the sadness of millions of Indians -- scores of fans, particularly the youth, and Bollywood actors who expressed deep grief over the super star whom the music and dancing loving nation so loves.
Now all have no doubt that the genius who visited Mumbai in 1990s could not be back any more.
"Everybody in India's film world owes a lot to Michael," said an artist based in Mumbai seeking anonymity.
"I think Jackson was this century's greatest pop singer. He was also gearing up for a comeback. I really feel saddened because of his death. It's a great loss to the legions of fans around the world, not only India," said 25-year-old aspiring pop singer Amit Patel, based in Mumbai.
Agreed Delhi-based Parmeet Singh: "His death that too at an early age is very shocking and unbelievable. He used to be my hero. He is no more. But he will still be my role model. He gave the world the sound of pop. We Indians mourn his death. Maybe it's an end of an era."
Bollywood's dance sensation and one of the leading actors in the 1980s and 1990s Mithun Chakraborty admitted how Jackson influenced his life.
"You can imagine the importance of MJ in my life for the fact that I named my son after him. For me he is still alive and will be so as long as I live."
"I want to say that when we were in college we used to hear a lot about Michael Jackson and used to appreciate him a lot. And we used to talk about him that he is a great star and he reached to that height. But all I can say is that god gives his soul peace," another leading Bollywood actor Govinda told the media.
An emotionally charged Nitu Sharma from Delhi could not hold his tears. "I feel that crying all day. I grew up with him. I learnt his dances, his songs. In fact, 'Thriller' was my first pop music cassette which my dad gave me as a present on my 16 birthday, " she said.
Though Chennai-based Jena Reddy has crossed his youth, he took no time to recollect his memories. "Everyone was imitating his moonwalk when it was a hit. He was a true superstar. Even though he is dead, he is an eternal performer. No doubt, it's an irreparable loss to music," he said.
Aptly summed up Indian singer Palash Sen in a recent media interview: "The man gave modern pop its identity and gave all of us lessons in music. He truly was the god of pop. Maybe the only singer in history who everyone knows across the globe."
(Xinhua News Agency July 3, 2009)
