"I fell in love with waacking before I even knew what it was called when I first saw (cast member) Mekhola Bose dance. Inspired by her, this is a story that is unconventional and fun, and I am beyond excited to present Waack Girls to the world,” expressed Sooni Taraporevala, creator and co-director of the nine episode original dance drama series titled Waack Girls. "But it’s not your typical dance show either. All six girls (in the cast) are unique, each with their own issues and problems that will resonate with audiences and who will relate to one or another. What the girls have in common is a defiance, a fearlessness, as they live life on their own terms, owning their hard-won space.”
Above: Sooni Taraporevala; l: cast of Waack Girls
Waacking (also whacking) is a street dance style with origins stemming from punking, a dance form reportedly created in the gay clubs of Los Angeles during the 1970s disco era and is mainly distinguishable by its rotational arm movements, posing and emphasis on expressiveness. The series, produced by Matter Entertainment, Chalkboard Entertainment and Jigri Dost Productions, has been created and directed by Taraporevala and co-written by (daughter) Iyanah Bativala and Ronny Sen. The nine-episode series features a talented cast, including newcomers Bose, Anasua Chowdhury, Rytasha Rathore, Chrisann Pereira, Priyam Saha, Ruby Sah, Achintya Bose, along with veterans Barun Chanda, Lillete Dubey and the late Nitesh Pandey in pivotal roles.
The show, which premiered on Prime Video on November 22, 2024, is "packed with comedy, drama, music and dance,” stated a press note from the over the top platform.
Set in Calcutta, the series follows six young women who are "unapologetically themselves as they create a dance group in a city and a country that knows little about their chosen dance style… These girls come together to form a dance group called Waack Girls and step into the spotlight,” states the press note. The series captures their adventures both on and off the dance floor as they confront personal battles, family expectations and societal norms.
Taraporevala told mid-day of November 21 about this series on
women empowerment... When you write about what you don’t know, you owe it to the subject to explore it fully. Talking to Mekhola was a start. The writers and I tried to get Calcutta right. My cameraperson and I scouted locations, finding the big houses, and capturing the city’s flavor. The next step was to get the girls’ story right. Having six women dancing to disco music in an old house excited me.”
Nikhil Madhok, Head of Originals, Prime Video, India, is quoted as saying, "We are thrilled to collaborate with talented filmmaker Sooni Taraporevala, to present Waack Girls. While at first glance, this is a story about passion for dance, but at the core, Waack Girls is a universal story meant to inspire all those who dare to dream.”
Taraporevala’s previous venture was in another dance form, ballet (see "Grace and grit,” Parsiana, June 21-July 6, 2020). Farrokh Jijina