Home : American Idol : Sanjaya -- The Drama Before the Drama

Sanjaya -- The Drama Before the Drama

Posted Apr 19th 2007 2:23PM by TMZ Staff

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.

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Tags: american idol, AmericanIdol, sanjaya malakar, SanjayaMalakar

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46. It is true that Sanjaya doesn't have a great voice, but he was able to render some songs with passion and grace. He behaved as a seducer and a born performer and those qualities deserved to have been taken into account, specially in a field ,as the pop music, where so many mediocrities without his charisma have made careers.

Posted at 2:43AM on Apr 20th 2007 by Vicente Echerri

47. You guys are all stupid, this is not "Who is the best looking Idol" or "Who is the funniest Idol" This is a singing contest and as nice and friendly and funny Sanjaya was, he was not anywhere near a great singer like some of the others up there! Lakisha and Jordan can belt those babies out! That's what the show is suppose to be about. It is not a popularity contest!

Posted at 1:42AM on Apr 20th 2007 by Sarah

48. i love sanjaya he always went out there and sang and had fun. he never tried to carry the notes too longlike some of the others, he just went out sang and had a good time. i voted for hime like crazy, its fixed, i called a couple of the other numbers and my calls went right through, when i called sanjayas number it was often busy, there is no way this was done fairly. if it really went by votes, he would still be there. i will not wathch american idol any more, unless he is on it.

Posted at 12:54AM on Apr 20th 2007 by tom tom

49.
WOW heard American Idol going to be be on BET next season...............LOL

Posted at 12:28AM on Apr 20th 2007 by whomever

50. You have my respect Sanjaya, be practical always and keep moving forwards in life.

Posted at 12:44AM on Apr 20th 2007 by Amit

51. I WANTED SANJAYA TO WIN!! HUHUHU.. BUT HE LOOKS SO CUTE IN THE VIDEO =)

Posted at 12:05PM on Apr 20th 2007 by A GIRL.. (NARROWS IT DOWN.. HEHE)

52. No more Sanjaya!! I cried more than he did! I know I wont be watching the AI any more this season, no reason to. Everyone else is BORING in comparison. I hope we see you soon Sanjaya, I will always be a FANJAYA.

Posted at 1:06AM on Apr 20th 2007 by Shay

53. When I first started watching I thought "this kid is awful" but after afew weeks I ended up liking him ..altho I didn't think he should win American Idol He still has a better voice then some of this crap from some artist that can't sing a note. ..Given a chance and some direction I think this kid's going to do something...plus I like him cause he can dance the Hula...can any of the others do the Hula??Good Luck Sanji

Posted at 9:50AM on Apr 20th 2007 by Pilikea

54. This teenager has all the potential to surpass the beatles and Elvis in popularity and it is not talent but charisma. He draws people to him like a magnet attracts metal. He is gifted and I know this is a person heading for stardom. I am an old granny but I like his way of entertaining . He's going a long way.

Posted at 1:50AM on Apr 20th 2007 by Jeri Delgado

55. Ok the producers didnt kick sanjaya off... are you retarded!? sanjaya sucks, and if u like him, u r clearly tone deaf! phil stacey did awesome this week thats why he stayed, everyone got sick of sanjaya so they didnt vote for him. some of you guys are complete idiots!

Posted at 5:06PM on Apr 20th 2007 by ariel

56. I thought (and still do!) that Sanjaya was adorable!! What a cutie!! I hated seeing him leave... but there can be only one idol per season and this just wasn't his time.

Posted at 1:45AM on Apr 20th 2007 by JL

57. Give the kid some credit! He had enough you know what to try out for American Idol and look how far he went with it?

Posted at 1:50AM on Apr 20th 2007 by POPOGIRL

58. #21....shut up......you talk junk and then your hypocracy shines.....don't watch if you are gonna hate....

Posted at 2:01AM on Apr 20th 2007 by antonio

59. I feel kinda sad without Sanjaya n Idol but I know he's going to be big!

Posted at 3:21AM on Apr 20th 2007 by macy

60. Jen I don't think anything is odd about Sanajya leaving and Phil coming out of the bottom 2. Here is what I think. I understand Sanjaya had fans however he also had those people voting for him because of other reasons well when he did a decent job and J.Lo liked him and Simon said it wasn't bad well then the fun part is voting for someone who is hated he was no longer hated so it wasn't fun to those people before. I for one voted for Phil many times and so did my friend. We happen to like Phil and aren't ready for him to go. I just think people stuck up for who they really liked and those who were voting for Sanjaya because they DIDN'T like him got bored and went about their business. When it comes down to it he was not the next American Idol, people may have liked him but he isn't the one...the question is who is??? I personally like Blake however I think Jordan has a good chance.

Posted at 4:17AM on Apr 20th 2007 by lisa

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