My camera failed me, twice, but I now play MJ songs on repeat
Dressed in a shiny black jacket, black hat and white gloves, eyes hidden by sunglasses, hair gelled and curled, Mudassar Hussain Mohammed could well pass off for Michael Jackson. Bonus point? He also sings and dances just like the King of Pop. Dubai is home to many such local talents who want to make a name for themselves globally. He was a perfect pick for our ‘Story Book’ video series, where we showcase individuals who are either achievers in their own field or have championed their challenges in life.
It took more than an hour and layers of makeup to make him look like the King of Pop, but it was all worth it. He struggled with the eyeliner and lipstick the most, and he said that he never realised how difficult doing makeup was until he started doing it himself. Now, when he sees women wearing makeup, he appreciates them even more. After we finished filming the makeup scene, we got ready to head to a pizza place in Business Bay where he was going to perform live. But he had to be careful not to grab unnecessary attention from passersby. When he went to the security guard of the building to collect his Emirates ID, he was turned away as the ‘lady’ didn’t resemble the photo on the ID card.
Usually he charges anywhere from Dh15,000 to Dh25,000 for performing live at an event or a private party, but that night he was performing for free, in order to let us film the video. He walked up to the stage to the tune of Billy Jean. There was silence at first as the audience were shocked by the striking resemblance to Jackson, followed by loud cheers and claps. Mudassar had practised the art of moonwalking since he was 10. The moment he began Michael’s signature moves, the camera’s memory card ran out of space and I had to quickly change it. It was a sad miss but I hoped he would do it again. When the second chance came, the camera ran out of battery. That’s when I said to myself: Keep calm and accept Murphy’s Law. However, the rest of the show was nothing short of a treat.
I was never a hardcore Jackson fan, but after meeting Mudassar I have been hooked on to his playlist on repeat. Not the best time to do so in the wake of the child abuse allegations, but Mudassar remains a staunch supporter of the music icon and swears to stand by him.
At the time when the world is turning against Jackson, the video was an interesting take on how his impersonator and fans continue to support him and preserve his legacy.