‘Michael’ seems like a concert that refuses to slow down

Guest Column: Dhunji S. Wadia, Proprietor and Managing Partner, ShiftAxis, shares his memories of watching Michael Jackson live, and now his portrayal on screen

by Dhunji S Wadia
Published: May 9, 2026 8:46 AM | 2 min read

The author recalls attending the Michael Jackson HIStory concert in 1996 in Mumbai with their nephew, highlighting the excitement and joy of the experience.
The film "Michael," featuring Jaafar Jackson as the lead, aims to capture the essence of Michael Jackson rather than focusing on traditional acting credentials.
The movie is described as an immersive experience that celebrates Jackson's artistry, with a focus on performances and visuals rather than controversies.
Critics have raised concerns about the omission of child abuse allegations, which were initially part of the film's narrative but were removed due to legal constraints from the Jackson estate, resulting in significant production delays and costs.

I saw the Michael Jackson HIStory 1996 concert at the Andheri Sports Complex in Mumbai along with my nephew, who was 10/11 years old at that time. He saw the entire show sitting on my shoulders. He was completely in sync with the proceedings right from the time MJ landed on earth to the very end of the show. He was ecstatic on our way back home. I was doubly ecstatic - seeing MJ's stage management, production, live-wire performance and also the joy on my nephew's face.

‘Michael’ is a rollercoaster of a movie. Instead of finding seasoned actors from Hollywood who would act like MJ, they went straight to the source - his nephew, Jaafar Jackson who had zero acting credits before this movie. You see it in his face, his posture and the rhythm in his body. When you see it you realise that it was never about finding the best actor but the closest echo of this once in a lifetime genius who cannot be duplicated.

The movie itself seems like a concert that refuses to slow down. It grabs you from the first beat and doesn't let go. The performances, visuals and musical sequences feel like watching history happen in real time. It's like getting into a time machine and getting a front row seat to watch the King of Pop again.

Don't get influenced by the critics who want to belittle it for not villainising Michael. They are commenting on the film they wanted to see and not what they saw. Go in to see a celebration of the artist and not the proceedings of a federal case.

Michael deserves your full attention. And it's totally paisa vasool.

#SpoilerAlert - specially for the experts who are screaming about child abuse allegations not shown in the film (from IMDB Trivia).

The original ending of the film was very different from the final cut that went to theaters. The final act initially focused on how the 1993 child abuse allegations impacted Jackson's life. Lionsgate scrapped that ending after attorneys for the Jackson estate pointed to a settlement clause with accuser Jordan Chandler that barred his depiction in the film. The movie was delayed and $15 million was spent on re-shoots as the production learned it could not include any scenes about the legal charges for child abuse brought against the singer. The additional cost was covered by the Jackson estate.

Disclaimer: The views expressed here are solely those of the author and do not in any way represent the views of exchange4media.com.