The gent who sings, “I want to eat chicken 65 on a Madurai tree”
.jpg) His percussionists wear an elephant mask and a cricket helmet during performances; film critic Roger “two thumbs up” Ebert recently tweeted this about his video, “Love Marriage”: “[I] dare you not to like this Indian music video”; and one of his fans has demanded on his blog that this singer be made the prime minister of the country. Time Out tracked down this internet phenomenon – a Wall Street Journal blog recently proclaimed that his video has taken “hold of the web” – to the oldest inhabited city in India, Madurai, in Tamil Nadu. “The first time I performed was at a family function,” declared the 32-year-old Wilbur Sargunaraj. “I danced to Michael Jackson’s ‘Smooth Criminal’.”
The singer, who in his online videos shimmies, writhes and sometimes ferociously dips his dance partners while belting non sequitur-laden lyrics referring to the famed chicken 65 and trees in his home town, said entertainment came naturally to him. “I am fortunate I have this as a career despite being on the receiving end of ongoing lectures about how music is not a stable thing to do,” he said, dismissing rumours that are circulating online that he works at a software firm by day and composes his astonishing songs such as “Chicken 65” by night.
And what of that iconic song – about that spicy, fried south Indian dish – that put him on the map? “I love eating chicken 65,” he declared. “It is one of my favourites.”
Sargunaraj is alternately humble and facetious when asked about the praise he has received. “The prime minister has a very important role to play and I think, to some extent, I see why people are saying this about me,” he said in response to the demand posted by his fan.
“And as for Roger Ebert tweeting what he did, I have no idea why he said that. Maybe he was researching the benefits of arranged marriage over love marriage for a family member.” Jaideep VG
Wilbur Sargunaraj also has a rap video dedicated to the Chennai Super Kings. His music is available on www.wilbur.asia. |
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