When Bal Thackeray Met Michael Jackson

“Shiv Sena’s notions of what is culturally acceptable in India show a distinct bias towards kitsch: Michael Jackson, for example,” Suketu Mehta wrote in his book Maximum City: Bombay Lost & Found.

Mehta was referring to the popstar’s performance in Mumbai on 1 November 1996. Two day before the event, Jackson met Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray at his residence ‘Matoshree’.

Jackson had reportedly been asked to pay Rs 4 crore to the Shiv Sena even as the party faced criticism for allowing the ‘King of Pop’ to perform in the city. The opposition criticised the move as an affront to Marathi culture.

Thackeray reportedly said, “Jackson is a great artist, and we must accept him as an artist. His movements are terrific. Not many people can that way. You will end up breaking your bones.”

“And, well what is culture? He represents certain values in America, which India should not have any qualms in accepting. We would like to accept that part of America that is represented by Jackson,” he added.

On Jackson’s 59th birth anniversary in 2017, Thackeray’s grandson Aditya shared photos of his visit on Instagram.

In a 2009 interview with Times of India , Aditya recalled, “The house was decked up and my grandpa had eagerly waited for him. Michael Jackson came and sat across Balasaheb. I was sitting on Balasaheb’s lap and he called me and made me sit with him. I remember him constantly moving to some beats, which were probably playing in his head at the time. He offered his hat to Balasaheb and everyone in the house clicked pictures with him. After he left, Balasaheb told us what a great performer he was. I became his fan after that.”