'MJ asked me to cook tandoorichicken'

Adnan says he has fond memories of MJ. “I remember he once requested, ‘Can you cook tandoori chicken for me?’ And he relished what I prepared for him. He was a small eater, but loved good food.”

Adnan Sami

It was a dream collaboration for composer-singer Adnan Sami. An international album that would mark the comeback of the band that comprised Michael Jackson and his brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Randy (Jackson 5 or The Jacksons). Untill the King of Pop passed away suddenly this year and Sami lost all hope in it.

But earlier this month, Sami got a call from the Jackson family asking him to start working on the project again as they wanted MJ’s dream to be fulfilled. Jackson’s sister Janet will lend her voice to the portions that were supposed to be sung by MJ. “Michael and I were constantly bouncing ideas, back and forth. Unfortunately, before any of them could take shape, he was gone. This will be our tribute to our lost brother,” says Sami about the album.

Word also is that Jermaine, eldest of the Jackson brothers, who was in Mumbai last month to shoot a song with Adnan, is behind the project’s revival. The Jacksons want to reunite and Janet’s inclusion will save them the hassle of a change in the band name. “The automatically fits into Jackson 5,” says Sami.

Sami says he has fond memories of MJ. “I remember he once requested, ‘Can you cook tandoori chicken for me?’ And he relished what I prepared for him. He was a small eater, but loved good food.”