Moonwalk Review: A Dance That Dares To Dream
Some films don’t come with big hype or viral trailers; they just quietly appear and end up staying with you long after the credits roll. Moonwalk, now streaming on JioHotstar, is exactly that kind of film. I clicked on it with zero expectations, thinking I’d just watch a few minutes before bed. But something about its grainy 90s vibe, that opening dance scene, and the raw energy of the characters pulled me in almost immediately. Before I knew it, I was completely immersed in the world of these boys from Trivandrum who just wanted to dance their hearts out.
What really struck me wasn’t just the dancing or the nostalgia, but the sincerity. Moonwalk doesn’t try to be larger than life; it just tells a story that’s deeply rooted in passion, friendship, and the fire of youth. It reminded me of how dreams feel when you’re young: messy, all-consuming, and somehow pure. Watching it felt like catching a glimpse of my younger self, wide-eyed, stubborn, and still believing that anything is possible with the right beat and the right people beside you.
Plot: How a Bunch of Teenagers Found Their Rhythm
The movie kicks off with a stage performance in the present day, a crew nailing their act in front of a pumped-up crowd. But soon, we’re pulled into a flashback: the story of how that group came together. Set in Trivandrum in the late 80s and early 90s, the film follows seven teenagers who start out with nothing but a shared love for dance.
At the heart of it all is Jake (Anunath), a boy from a privileged background where academic success is everything. His mother works abroad, and his father is a househusband who doesn’t quite understand why Jake keeps sneaking off to dance. Then there’s Sura (Sibi Kuttappan), Jake’s polar opposite. He lives with his grandma and two sisters, juggling odd jobs while nurturing his passion for dancing. Their contrast in background makes their bond even more beautiful. The rest of the gang — Arun, Varun, Shaji, Shibu, and Sudeep each bring their own quirks, strengths, and vulnerabilities. Together, they form a team of boys who are rough around the edges but united in their dreams.
A turning point comes when they watch a polished crew called Zoom Boys steal the show at a local fest. Instead of backing down, they decide they won’t just copy them, they’ll outdo them. That fiery spirit is summed up perfectly in this exchange: “Have you seen how those guys dance? If we’re going to dance, it has to be just like them.” To which another fires back, “Not like them — better than them!” That moment perfectly captures their mindset, not content with copying, they want to carve out something of their own.
From then on, the film becomes a mix of practice sessions, small-town drama, familial tensions, and teenage mischief. They dance in alleys, on rooftops, and even sneak into school halls, failing, fighting, growing, and slowly finding their rhythm.
There’s also a sweet subplot with Frida (Sanjana Doss), a stylish, slightly older girl who connects with Jake. Their friendship is gentle and understated, but it adds a soft emotional layer that balances the film’s raw energy. The build-up is slow, but the final dance competition? It’s an explosion of everything they’ve been working toward, and it hits all the right notes.
Performances: Real People, Real Emotions
What works best here is the freshness of the cast. Most of them are newcomers, and it works. Anunath, as Jake, brings in a calm vulnerability that makes his inner conflict relatable. You root for him, not because he’s the hero, but because he’s trying to figure himself out like so many of us did.
Sibi Kuttappan as Sura is intense in the best way, grounded, layered, and incredibly expressive. You feel every bit of his hustle. The other boys — Sujith Prabhakar, Rishi Kainikkara, Siddharth Babu, Manoj Moses, and Prem Shanker S all blend into their roles so naturally, it feels like you’re watching a real gang of friends from your neighborhood.
Sanjana Doss as Frida is graceful and confident. Her scenes with Jake are few but meaningful. Meenakshi Raveendran and Veena Nair round out the cast nicely in supporting roles that help ground the film’s emotional moments.
Direction & Screenplay: Rooted in Reality, Full of Soul
Vinod A.K.’s direction is quietly brilliant. There’s no rush here; he takes his time to build this world. You’re not just watching a movie, you’re stepping into a time capsule: the late 80s with its hand-painted posters, cassette tapes, schoolyard rivalries, and youthful rebellion.
The screenplay (written by Vinod along with Mathew Varghese and Sunil Gopalakrishnan) lets every character breathe. Whether it's awkward silences, goofy banter, or serious confrontations, it all feels lived-in and real. Some moments really hit home, like the beachside scooter breakdown that turns into an unexpected heart-to-heart, or the awkward silence after Jake’s father watches him dance. These scenes don’t need big dialogues. They just feel true.
Yes, the first half might feel a bit slow. But it builds a strong emotional base. And when the final act kicks in, you’re fully invested.
Music & Visuals: A Vibe All On Its Own
Prashant Pillai’s music in Moonwalk doesn’t just accompany the film; instead, it grows with it. In the early moments, the soundtrack is subtle, almost reserved, mirroring the hesitation and innocence of the boys just starting to find their rhythm. As the story unfolds and their confidence builds, the music too starts swelling with more attitude and groove.
What’s beautiful is how it never tries to overtake the emotion; it supports it. Whether it’s the retro-inspired beats that evoke the spirit of the late '80s or the mellow, soul-touching background score during emotional moments, the music works like a quiet thread stitching everything together.
There’s a kind of nostalgia baked into the soundscape, not just in the rhythms, but in the silences too. Pillai knows when to pull back and let the scene breathe. In the final performance, the music doesn’t overwhelm with adrenaline; instead, it feels earned. It celebrates not just a dance victory, but an emotional one. And that kind of restraint? It’s rare in films centered on performance. The music leaves you humming without even realizing it, and honestly, that’s the kind of soundtrack that sticks.
Final Thoughts: More Than Just a Dance Film
Moonwalk isn’t trying to go viral or win big on drama, and maybe that’s what makes it so special. It takes you back to a time when dreams felt urgent and friendships felt like lifelines. For me, it wasn’t just a story about a bunch of boys learning to dance; it was a reminder of that raw, unstoppable energy we all once carried, before life got complicated.
It made me think of the times I failed, got back up, and kept going simply because something inside refused to quit that stubborn spark we often forget about. And watching this film felt like sitting next to that younger version of myself again, cheering them on.
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