From Vande Mataram to Ekam Satyam, from A R Rahman to Michael Jackson...Kanika and Bharatbala of Bharatbala Productions certainly know how to make the right kind of music.

Rahman, along with classical dancer Shobana and dancing sensation Prabhudeva, performed with Jackson at a concert in Munich last Sunday. Sponsored by the Hinduja Foundation and put together by Bharatbala Productions, the Indian act came right at the end of the show in the form of a song called Ekam Satyam (There is only one truth). The song was written by Kanika Myer Bharat and set to tune by Rahman. The concert was part of the 'Michael Jackson & Friends' series organised in Korea and Germany. Among those who took part in the concerts were Luciano Pavarotti, Stevie Wonder, Alan Parsons, Vanessa Mae and Boyzone.

"It was the most amazing experience to be part of a Michael Jackson concert. This was the first time he performed on stage with Indians," Kanika told Rediff on the NeT from Munich. Jackson came to India in 1997 as part of the HIStory tour when he performed to a capacity-crowd in Mumbai. The video for his hit number Black or white features a classical Indian dancer with whom Jackson can be seen matching steps.

Explaining how the Munich concert came about, Kanika said, "S P Hinduja is a friend of Jackson's. S P's daughter Vinoo was having dinner with Jackson in New York one evening when he mentioned the forthcoming concerts to her. Vinoo, in turn, said, 'why not have an Indian element in your show?' Jackson, who loves India and everything about it, jumped at the idea," Kanika added.

Vinoo contacted Bharat and Kanika and the latter penned the song Ekam Satyam based on the Indian motto of Satyamev Jayate (Truth always triumphs). The song, written in English and Sanskrit, was recorded by Rahman in London within a week. According to Bharat, the song has a lot of attitude, reflecting the energy, passion and dynamism of India.

The duo then went to Paris to meet Jackson. Said Kanika, "We met him in a hotel for an hour -- he is an extremely warm and down-to-earth person. He heard the song on Bala's discman and simply loved Rahman's music. He wanted to know who had written the lyrics and when I said I did, he remarked that I must be a poet!" Jackson immediately called his team in Los Angeles and told them that the Indian production will be part of the Munich show.

"It was such a great experience. And you won't believe it, he reserved the best slot of the show for us. We were the closing act. You can imagine what it is like to have Pavarotti, Boyzone, Alan Parsons and other such eminent artistes open the act in the 'Michael and Friends' concert. Jackson himself came after them and sang some of his hit songs. Then he went off stage, and the people were actually swooning and ambulances were taking them away. In the midst of all this, it was announced that Michael will be back for one more song, with his special friends from India, and then they announced our names," Kanika said. Rahman, Shobana and Prabhudeva were accompanied by 30 dancers from Germany all of whom wore costumes designed well-known coutourier Manish Malhotra. Jackson spoke the English lyrics while the rest of the song was rendered by Rahman. The song, as well as the concert, ended with fireworks in the sky, Kanika added.

"I'm sure the Germans did not know what hit them. The crowd was so huge that I can't even describe it. I'm glad none of our performers fainted on stage," she joked. "It was crazy putting up this kind of a show and that too, within a week. But it's a great feeling to have presented India on an international platform."

The proceeds from the concert will go to the International Red Cross Society, Nelson Mandela's Children's Fund and the Unesco.

source: rediff

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