- Date of Release: 30 May 2025
- Genre: Dance, Drama
- Language: Malayalam
- Watch On: JioHotstar
Moonwalk
Introduction
Being a 90s kid, my watershed moment in dancing arrived in style in the early 2000s when I witnessed Hrithik Roshan dancing to the tunes of Ek Pal Ka Jeena in the Hindi film Kaho Na Pyaar Hai (2000). The man could dance like a dream, and it didn’t take long for an entire generation to warm up to his hook-steps, even as the same would be successfully or unsuccessfully replicated at birthday parties (yes, we had birthday parties devoid of social media then). In many ways, the new Malayalam film Moonwalk can also be termed as a coming of age story of a group of boys who find themselves in the midst of the Michael Jackson Breakdance era! In a scene when asked about his inspiration of dancing, a character replies Mithun Chakraborty, a reference to the disco era of the early 80s (when most characters grew up) that would slowly transition to the Michael Jackson era of the late 80s. And automatically, the broader sentiment engulfing the drama is that of nostalgia, in an era where mobile phones were yet to be discovered and VHS tapes were the ‘vibe’ of the generation!
Story & Screenplay
In an early scene in Moonwalk, you witness the bunch of characters brainstorming in order to play the VHS tape of ‘Thriller’, Michael Jackson aka MJ’s new smash hit that had him moonwalking for the first time, a cultural reference that would eventually go onto inspire generations across the globe. Now because this wasn’t the social media generation, the rare glimpse of MJ’s moves was a status symbol in itself, even as the eventual visual of the tape remains a skewed output with hardly a sign of MJ even while keeping the vibe of the scene intact. In many ways, this coming of age drama is a distant cousin of the Malayalam film Alappuzha Gymkhana (2025), wherein the aimless aspirations of the characters overpower their distant ambitions.
When we are introduced to the characters here, they are a bunch of college going boys living in a small town in Kerala that is slowly awakening to the breakdance era. In many ways, this group of 7 to 8 boys resemble a group soul, just like a hound of birds flying in the deep skies, who are inspired to take up dancing after witnessing some swirling killer moves by a dance group at a competition. The sub-genre revolves around the group opting to participate in a dance competition, and whilst dance does play an important ‘character’ in the midst, the writing is content with revolving around these characters in a social and political environment around them that isn’t necessarily conducive to them taking up dancing.
In a scene, you witness a couple of characters arguing in a bus only for the camera to eventually zoom out while acquainting the viewers with others in the bus. Most people seem disinterested, with a couple of folks yawning while being oblivious to the argument that is transpiring at the side. That scene defines the vibe of the drama – a group of boys passionate for dancing coming together to form a group, even while most people in their lives are laid back and not necessarily welcoming with this idea. At the helm of things remains Jake (Anunath) who gets the chunk of the family life from the boys. Coming from a humble background, you understand what his parents and in particular, his mother wants from him – to study and be successful in life. But Jake’s heart is always in dancing.
There are fleeting moments of romance that define the frivolous whiff of youth as far as the characters are concerned. In a scene, you witness a character bringing the sketch of a frog (probably as a part of a college assignment) to the girl that he loves, only to be asked to hilariously draw an elephant in front of everyone by her sister. Elsewhere, the injury to the hand of a character opens revenues for a blossoming romance at the hospital. It is moments like these that create a frivolous but heartfelt vibe in a nostalgic era that remained pious from the presence of social media.
The underlying political commentary revolves around the character of Sura (Sibi Kuttappan) who is literally a miscast in the group. In one of his initial scenes, you just see him being given the duty of ‘playing’ the songs, leaving him to discreetly groove to the beats of it. In another scene, you see him being given a pair of canvas shoes (that are now called sneakers lol), that remained a significant upgrade from the slippers that he dons. Even a fleeting scene involving his family sitting on the floor to have their meals, tells you a story within the story. Hence, the completion of arc in the form of an extraordinary dance number is a fitting moment in his life, something that is immediately stalled in the very next scene wherein he is asked to carry a jackfruit to the shop after his remarkable feat. Life as they say, goes on…..
The vibe and the world that is created is about the smaller moments – the group opting for punk hairstyles with metal hangings from their ears. The drama remains a life and a death situation wherein the punk hair is cruelly cut as a part of a moral policing that transpires in the area, synonymous to the social commentary on offer. There isn’t necessarily a hook that the writers cater to, while freely allowing the characters to react to the situation, and that trait of nostalgia is what defines the screenplay, something that caters to THIS vibe when life was simple!
Dialogues, Music & Direction
The dialogues are conversational but building upon the vibe that is created by the theme of the film. The music is peppy and immediately transports you to the Jackson-era of the late 80s where breakdance was a rage, even whilst maintaining the trait of nostalgia really well. The BGM compliments this nostalgic theme by creating notes that elevate the simplistic fleeting moments in the narrative too, while forcing you to groove at the glance of multiple dance numbers. Here I must also compliment the dance choreography, wherein the frames represent a coming of age drama too. The dance movements of the characters are raw and slowly improving over a period of time, unlike a proper montage sequence that would typically be designed for characters to perfect the steps (something that Bollywood can take a leaf out of too).
The editing is slightly scattered, a tad too much for my liking, that at times feels too choppy particularly during the dance numbers. A moee sedate style could have further worked wonders for the film. Director AK Vinod is successfully creates a vibe around the drama, and continues to play with it throughout the narrative. This essentially acts as a tool or a playing ground for the characters to prosper in, even as the texture is added by the characterization that further contributes to the factor of nostalgia. The deliberate laid back style of narration also allows you to soak in the ambience of the drama, that soon goes beyond the realms of an underdog story. The direction remains splendid here.
Performances
The performances are wonderful by the members of the cast. Veenah Nair and Sreekant Murali have their moments to shine and both of them are splendid to witness. Harshitha Pisharody as Shahana has a good screen presence and she does a wonderful job. Nainita Maria, Meenakshi Raveendran and Sanjana Doss are first rate while being vital cogs in the screenplay, wherein they make their presence felt. Rishi Kanikkara, Manoj Moses and Siddharth B excel in their respective performances while also showcasing some brilliant moves along the way. Anunath as Jake has a towering screen presence and he does add solidity with his sincere performance. Sibi Kuttappan as Sura has the best character arc to play with and given that you are on a quiet little stroll with him through the narrative, the ending hits so wonderfully with the emotional connect that his performance has to offer. He remains quietly brilliant throughout the narrative.
Conclusion
Moonwalk is a nostalgic drama dipped in the cultural breakdance era of the late 80s that makes for a wonderful watch. Available on JioHotstar.