Sanjay Malakar, Oh Sanjay
(Source: DetNews.com)
I couldn’t believe Sanjay Malakar has gone home. He’s one of the most phenomenal Idol finalists of all seasons. Well, sure, he may not look like a “macho” man, but who needs another? The world is already full of them. We don’t need another Arnold Schwarchenegger or Sylvester Stallone (and they can’t sing either).
We need a more subtle kind of sensitive man. And, Sanjay is definitely one of them. One of the very best with angelic and flexible voice, great performance, and ability to grow.
I’ve seen many Idol contestants who were too snobbish to change, overconfident, too content with themselves. People like them can’t grow any farther, but not Sanjay. He can grow and make a good name for himself.
If you’re not familiar with his personal history. Listen.
His parents got divorced when he was only three years old and his sister, Shyamali, was five years old. Sure, everybody’s parents got divorced. Sure, everybody has a sister. And everybody lives with a single mother. But Sanjay’s mom lived on a welfare check of $531 per month after the split.
His father, who was a Hare Krishna priest named Vasudeva Malakar, at first refused to pay for alimony claiming he didn’t earn any money as a religious leader. But at last he decided to get a paying job to support his two children for a sum of $200 per month. Sanjay then lived with his mother and stepfather, after she remarried, but shortly after he passed away.
His personal history may sound like a soap opera, but he is one tough soft-spoken boy with angelic voice. A glimpse of fame and fortune peeked at his window when he was chosen as an American Idol finalist. Who knows whether he could win or not? He did a great job and entertained all of us. He might have made a poor song choice last Tuesday. Ah, well, one bad move and you’re done.
Life is like that. You never know what you’re gonna get. Including my Sanjay. He didn’t know what he could get. One thing I know for sure is: he’ll get a record deal very soon, even before the 2007 American Idol has been chosen. His record will be earning a platinum. I guarantee you.