India’s Got Talent Too

Just after the Mumbai based hip-hop group Kings United was crowned the winner of US television show World of Dance last month, another mesmerising hip-hop group, V.Unbeatable, took the global dance stage.

Naigaon-based dancer Om Prakash Chauhan and his 28-member crew have made it to America’s Got Talent – an international dance reality show. Their intricate audition, where they performed to the song Malhari from the film Baajirao Mastani, earned the team a standing ovation from the judges: Simon Cowell, Gabrielle Union, Julianne Hough and Howie Mandel.

“When I landed in America, I just couldn’t believe it. It was a dream for me till I got a standing ovation from the judges. I was, in fact, asking my crew members how they feel and they would say ‘it’s all so dream like’,” says 27-year-old Om Prakash, who first formed his group Unbeatable in 2012. He added the letter “V” to the name in 2014, after he lost one of his team members, Vikas to an accident.

“We are achieving all because of Vikas. It was his dream for the group to achieve big and we are living his dream. I am thankful to my team who works tirelessly to make the performance best”  shares Om Prakash, who also  reveals how he was enveloped in the guilt of Vikas’ death for months after the incident. He wanted to go back to his village in Uttar Pradesh because all his crew members left him. But it was Vikas’ parents who encouraged Om Prakash to form the group again. “I started all over again and asked children from all the ghettos of the slums. Vikas’ parents wanted me to stay back in Mumbai and let the world see our talent,” the dancer recalled.

The struggle to live up to Vikas’ parents’ dream was certainly not easy. Ten years ago, Om Prakash chose dance over his academics because his father, who used to run a cycle repair shop in Masinagaon in UP, could not afford to pay the fees. He ran away from home to live his dream, which was influenced by watching dance reality shows on TV.

“The only thing I knew was that I wanted to dance. I used to follow all the dance reality shows and imitate the steps,” he said. And after coming to the Bay, he formed his crew and auditioned for all the Indian reality shows for over five years, until he finally got through Dance Plus season four. V. Unbeatables was one of the four finalists of the season. “No Indian reality show gave me opportunity. I was declined everywhere. But I knew that I had talent and I will get my due, so Dance Plus season four happened,” he says.

Ever since the team has come back from the US, they have been rigorously rehearsing for the next round, slated for the last week of July this year in Los Angeles. Ask about the song they will be performing in second round, the dancer gushes saying, “That’s a surprise for people to see.” For Indian audiance the show will be aired on Colours Infinity. And to make the country proud, Om Prakash and crew members have been practicing for over 12 hours a day at a temple in Naigaon, which according to him is given by a local trust for dance practice. Om Prakash also reveals that they take over a month to practice stunts for a 90-second performance.

 “We rehearse the entire day and till midnight at night because we have the last train to catch. Half of my team members are working, and the others are school children. I have asked working members to leave their jobs to rehearse more and school kids come after their classes,” he explains.

When asked if they will make it to the final round and bring the prize home, the dancer muses, “We grow up praying every day for a better life and I believe we all deserve it. I can only trust my talent and be hopeful. I know the competition is very tough, but if we can achieve this then everything is possible.”