Disney Channel's Spin debuted on August 13th, starring Avantika as Rhea, an Indian American teen who learns she has a passion for creating DJ mixes that blend the textures of her Indian heritage and the world around her. Spin is Disney Channel’s first original TV film featuring an Indian American lead and it taps into a new generation of immigrant experiences.
Between grieving the loss of her mother, helping run the family restaurant, enjoying STEM club with her best friends, and learning to DJ from a new love interest, high school teen Rhea (Avantika) has a lot to juggle. The story of Spin beautifully intertwines friends, family, and culture as Rhea leans to prioritize the different aspects of her life. The cast gives a deep dive on the themes of Spin in the behind-the-scenes clip below.
Spin is a truly compelling, creative, and relatable coming-of-age story. Rhea’s instinct for seeing and feeling music everywhere awakens a passion within her, and while following that passion initially causes conflict in her relationships, it ultimately sets Rhea and those around her free. Seeing a young female character embrace what she loves and not hide behind what is familiar to her is empowering. Director Manjari Makijany shared the following with Disney Channel of crafting this film:
Spin was an incredible opportunity to present my culture in a contemporary and accessible way for a mainstream audience. It breaks the usual stereotypes, for a change this wasn’t a story where the Indian American is having an identity crisis but instead celebrates her rich culture, and I loved that. Rhea is a confident girl who has her moments of self-doubt like all of us, but she’s not afraid to embrace her talents (coding and dj’ing), and I hope seeing that inspires other young girls. You can love art and science! I was always aware that a film like that would have a strong impact in normalizing representation for South Asians on screen.
Manjari Makijany certainly achieved “contemporary and accessible.” As a viewer, the cultural elements throughout Spin provided a window into something unfamiliar yet relatable. Regardless of the specific holiday, we all celebrate something. Every family has something unique to their family unit, like Rhea’s family owning a restaurant. From the food and costuming to the celebration of Holi, Spin’s celebration of Indian culture is absolutely stunning.
Avantika is the perfect choice as the star of Spin. Not only is her performance phenomenal, but she exudes confidence and grace that is really compelling to watch. She’s also humble, as you can see in the clip below of her being offered the part of Rhea (try not to cry, I failed.)
Well, if that isn’t the sweetest thing you’ll see today, I don’t know what is! Avantika leads an international ensemble of talented veteran and burgeoning young actors, including Bollywood renowned Abhay Deol ("Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara") as Arvind; UK comedienne/actress Meera Syal ("Yesterday") as Asha; Aryan Simhadri ("Adventures in Wonder Park") as Rohan; Michael Bishop ("Grace Beside Me") as DJ Max; Anna Cathcart ("Descendants" franchise) as Molly; Jahbril Cook ("A Week Away") as Watson; and Kerri Medders ("Alexa & Katie") as Ginger.
Here’s what Avantika shared of her hopes for the film:
I hope that viewers take away from Spin that youth is a time for experimentation. I hope that audiences, especially children, will understand that youth is not a time to put yourself and your potential in a box. In fact, kids and young adults should be soaring for the sky and shooting for the stars. I wish that “Spin” inspires them to pursue their dreams - however wild and crazy!
Spin is currently available on Disney Channel and on DisneyNow. For more family-friendly favorites, check out the best Disney Channel Original Movies on Disney+. To take a trip down memory lane, CinemaBlend has also curated some Disney Channel Originals to remind you of your childhood.
