Sanjaya -- The Drama Before the Drama

America has finally drop-kicked the smiley "Idol" wannabe into the last of fame's fifteen minutes, but it wasn't the first stage on which little Sanjy faltered.

TMZ has obtained some classic video of a 9-year-old Malakar performing in a local production of "Bugsy Malone" -- a musical with children playing mobsters -- where the rejected "Idol" performs an amusing tap dance with a broom.

The Hawaii Children's Theatre performance was recorded in 1999, but there are already signs of some of his infamous traits -- the cheesy Mariah hand waves, his studied pre-teen chicken-necking, and signature note reaching. A star was born!

American Idol Typecasting: Click to view photosThere's also a taste of Malakar as a random but adorable orphan in "Oliver," and sister Shyamali in "A Christmas Carol" as the Ghost of Christmas Past. Now Sanjy joins the ranks of wannabeens past ... but this kid is money.



Tags: american idol, AmericanIdol, sanjaya malakar, SanjayaMalakar

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31. He was fun but he really wasn't a very good singer. How far could he go. Stern says the guy was horrible, then says the vote was fixed. what a idiot.

Posted at 9:59PM on Apr 19th 2007 by krk

32. I wrote a comment earlier but it has since disappeared---want everyone to know==I liked sanjaya and so did a lot of other people I know and I am a 45 year old woman ==I liked his voice and think he has more charisma than any one one that show. I cant stand Melinda Doolittle or Phil--talk about creepy. Some of these comments are so childish--grow up why don't ya. I still supoport Sanjaya and it has nothing to do with his hair or Howard Stern. Speak for your self and quit speaking for everyone else.

Posted at 10:10PM on Apr 19th 2007 by susan

33. His 15 minutes of fame are hardly up, he will probably be the biggest star out of this cast of American Idol. He goes beyond American Idol and has been talked about across every news network, and even sports networks in this country. I thought it was pretty laughable that Simon claims every week that they are looking for the best singer, but then they throw Fergie in front of everybody and basically sends the message you don't have to be a good singer to be famous. I mean Fergie, please. Everybody gets on Sanjaya, but c'mon nobody this season is that great. Melinda can sing, but she's nothing original that we haven't seen before. Chris Richardson's version of Smooth was by far the worst performance this season, worse than anything Sanjaya did. I had to run and get my Santana CD out and listen to that song to get Chris' horrendous version out of my head. Not to mention that stupid shoulder shake he does every time he sings. Sanjaya held up well for as young as he is despite very negative press. He's already won.

Posted at 10:20PM on Apr 19th 2007 by Down where, down here!

36. I miss Sanjaya. He was the HIGHLIGHT of the whole show. It just won't be the same anymore. I looked forward to his appearance. What would he wear? What would his hair look like? What would he sing? How would Simon react? Now, it will just be boring. I think AOL got rid of him on purpose. To me, he already won AOL. Just look at the buzz he created!

Posted at 10:28PM on Apr 19th 2007 by Friend

37. SANJAYA YOU DID THE BEST YOU CAN I THINK WHO CARES WHAT AMERICA THINKS NOW YOU ON THE WAY DISNEYLAND ON THE SHOW HANHA MOUTAIN GO FOR IT WHEN YOU GET YOU FRIST ALBAM OUT IN GOING TO BUY IT

Posted at 10:44PM on Apr 19th 2007 by Cori

38. Could not care less is Correct. Another thing that bothers me is when the stupid idiots who refer to themselves and newscasters say two planes had a near miss. You idiots, this means they collided!!! How can you trust anything else that they say?

Posted at 10:32PM on Apr 19th 2007 by GW

39. TO MY DEAR SANJAYA WILL LIKE YOU AND I THINK THE AMERCIAN PEOPLE DID NOT VOTE RIGHT PERSON YOU ARE ON THE WAY TO BECOME BIG STARYOU WILL HIT AND I WILL BE THEFIRST ONE TO BUY IT LOVE ALWAYS YOU NUMBER ONE FAN DALLIS FOR VA

Posted at 10:43PM on Apr 19th 2007 by DALLIS H

40. Okay Jenn You Stupid Ditz, Did You Ever Think That Phil Actually Did Good On Tuesday and That Sanjaya Sucked Butt Cheeks. Think About It You Frickin Tone Deaf Retard

Posted at 11:00PM on Apr 19th 2007 by Lucy

41. Um Sanjaya had a pretty voice but it was very dry and you all know that he had no chance of winning. About the one up there saying people need to leave Sanjaya alone and that fat and whatever else you said Lakisha should of been kicked off you are wrong. You saying to leave Sanjaya alone but then you sit there and dog Lakisha out. What a hypocrite. You don't sit there and talk about somebody like that, and then tell somebody else to not talk about people. Lakisha may not have been a size 2 but she was still a beautiful black woman and had a beautiful personality. Its people like you that got these kids shooting up schools casue you put in there head that you're suppose to be a size two and you're suppose to look like this, and you're suppose to dress like this and when they don't meet your quota of identity you tear them down. You can't feel to good about yourself to hurt somebody else.

Posted at 9:20PM on Apr 20th 2007 by Ms. B

42. I was shocked at how Chris lashed out at Simon....he isnt ALL that. Get off your high horse dear, you arent Justin Tomberlake, all though everyone knows you are trying to imitate him.

Posted at 11:14PM on Apr 19th 2007 by Peggy

43. I am adding another comment because I can't believe that you had the nerve to say you can't stand Melinda Doolittle. Can you sing? What are you mad cause you know she's probably going to when the whole thing. Now you know that girl can sing. Or are you mad cause a black women is about to blow up? Folks are funny. We love to sit and down other people. We just can't be happy for people and congratulate them in their success. If you know so much about who can sing and who can't why aren't you on American Idol? You should be where she is now.

Posted at 9:20PM on Apr 20th 2007 by Ms. B

44. It's not the kids fault that he kept getting voted through.... What was he supposed to do, quit the show because so many people didn't like him... hell if that were me and I sucked as bad as he did but kept getting voted through I'd sure as hell do the same as he did...... I was never a fan of his but he has a lot of ambition for a 16 year old... You have to give him some credit...

Posted at 11:34PM on Apr 19th 2007 by pookiebear

45. the country song and hair do with the do rag didn't help his chances also, all the news going on worldwide kept the boiler room voters too busy to call in and vote

Posted at 11:43PM on Apr 19th 2007 by granny

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