Ram Gopal Varma recalls Michael Jackson’s impact on his life

Veteran filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has always been vocal about the Western influences that shaped his cinematic taste, ranging from “The Godfather” and Hollywood films to English novels and Bruce Lee’s martial arts movies. Among the many global icons he admires, Michael Jackson holds a special place.

After recently watching the biopic “Michael,” RGV took to social media to share an emotional note about the legendary pop star and the impact he had on him since his engineering college days in Vijayawada in 1984.

Varma recalled how watching “Thriller” for the first time in a small video parlour completely changed his perception of music and visual storytelling. He described the experience as “an invasion” that opened his eyes to a level of spectacle and creativity he had never imagined before.

Calling Michael Jackson “more than human,” RGV said the singer’s aura, screen presence, choreography, and music videos became an inspiration for generations of filmmakers and creators. He mentioned iconic songs like “Beat It,” “Billie Jean,” “Smooth Criminal,” and “Black or White,” stating that Jackson’s work remained an “unreachable benchmark.”

Condensing his emotional tribute, RGV wrote that he “hated” Michael Jackson for dying because it shattered the fantasy that such a larger-than-life figure could ever be mortal. He added that despite the controversies surrounding the singer, nothing diminished the joy and inspiration Jackson gave him.

RGV concluded the post by saying he would carry the unforgettable “daze” Michael Jackson gave him in that Vijayawada video parlour for the rest of his life.