@Raviii181

1 year ago

It has been over 3 weeks since I watched this movie and I have still not been able to get over it! 96 is one of the most beautiful love stories in a long time which would haunt you with the memories of Ram and Jaanu forever. But please watch this movie only if you are ready to have your heart broken.

It is the story of two highschool sweet hearts who meet after 22 years and have one single night to spend with each other and the emotional turmoil that they undergo . It is a simple story and it strikes a chord with most because of the way in which it has been handled - in a mature and realistic manner. Somehow I could not compare it to Autograph albeit both the movies are about nostalgia and unrequited love.The movie starts with The life of Ram song and I felt it was a thoughtful addition to the movie in terms of the visuals as the rest of the movie happens mostly on the streets of Chennai. The scenes where Ram meets the school watchman (Janagaraj is a lovely addition to the cast even though he appears only for about 5 minutes in all), visits the school, whatsapps his old friends and the reunion scenes all bring old school memories and a sweet smile to your face. The movie has good humour in few places which has kept it from becoming dull and drab. The portions where Aadukalam Murugadoss, Bhagavathy Perumal and Devadarshini appear are a laugh riot. One would long for the entry of Jaanu (Trisha) for such was the effect Jaanu had not only on Ram but on each of us too. I loved the scene in which Jaanu meets Ram after 22 years where she still sees him like how he was in his 10th standard but in reality he is a 37 year old. The initial reactions of Ram and Jaanu to each other shows clearly that they have not recovered from their past.The first half is cheerful which sets the tone for the very emotional second half and climax. The film is filled with allegories like the scene where Ram tells his students that a photo captures a moment and freezes it forever (it shows that he has still frozen in time in the memory of him and Jaanu) or the scene where Jaanu calls and asks Ram if he has gone too far and he tells her that he is still in the same place that he had left her or the scene in the metro which says mind the gap between. The second half is about why they could not live together happily ever after and their helplessness. The scene where he asks Jaanu if she is happy and the answer that she gives is splendid (she says she is rather peaceful). One has to note that she says that her husband is a nice man. They have not tarnished the image of her husband in order for her to yearn for Ram. That is the kind of sensibility that I am talking about. One need not make one appear bad to make the other appear good. Another lovely scene is where he opens his school bag and shows his treasured items to Jaanu. I loved the climax and it would leave you aching for more. Kudos to Premkumar for having written the climax in this way for it was the most natural thing for Ram and Jaanu to do. I was hoping and praying till the end for Jaanu to say that she was not married and for them to get back together. But I think that is one of the reasons why this movie works. Had the climax been in any other manner, the movie might not have had the same effect on it's viewers as it does now. The last scene where Ram puts her clothes inside the school bag is so sad. Only their belongings could be together forever.I liked both Ram and Jaanu's character but I literally fell in love with the sweetness of Ram's character. The way he respects and adores Jaanu, the distance he maintains owing to the fact that she is a married woman, the way he gazes at her daughter's photo, the way he does not lust Jaanu but only loves her ( he does not even smell her clothes in the last scene but only touches it with a longing that she has gone) and many many more.Coming to the performances, Vijay Sethupathi and Trisha have performed so very well that you would see them only as Ram and Jaanu for sometime in the future. Vijay Sethupathi has underplayed the role which complements Ram's character and this is Trisha's best role till date. She shines in few scenes like the one in the climax and the one where she has tears in her eyes thinking about the reality while speaking about a what if situation (she captures both the emotions beautifully) to name a few. The casting is brilliant be it the supporting actors or the younger versions of Ram and Jaanu and the other supporting actors. The unseen hero of the movie is Govind Vasanta! The piano and violin have been used extensively throughout the movie and the guitar in few places. The music resonates with the melancholic mood of the film and walks with Ram and Jaanu in their journey. You feel the sadness hidden in life of Ram song just as sadness prevails in Ram's life though he enjoys the little things in life. Ilayaraja’s songs helps in recreating the 90s. The cinematography is remarkable. The lyrics are like a whiff of fresh air. It speaks about the yearning and love of Ram and Jaanu but the words do not get repetitive even in one single song. All the departments have been handled with so much care.The script has been handled with so much love and sensitivity that it makes the movie stand out from other movies. There is absolutely no physical indulgence but only emotional indulgence. It was an innocent love and would still remain an innocent one. There are no 3 fancy word references or even a small pudichurukku but you feel so much love between each other. There is no mention of getting back together as it is not possible (that is the beauty). Jaanu has her own family to get back to and Ram shares that responsibility equally ( the way in which he is hesitant to spend time with her and unleash all the feelings). There are no unnecessary characters or scenes ( like Jaanu's husband or Jaanu's life in Singapore). It only focuses on Ram and Jaanu and on what is necessary. The story has been delivered beautifully with minimal characters.The success of a movie lies in the fact that one still feels the very same things irrespective of how many ever times one watches the movie. I laughed at the same places and cried at the same places irrespective of how many ever times I watched this movie. The movie however is very long considering it's content. Ram and Jaanu speak about the same things over be over again in the second half which makes it slow.

I can go on and on about this movie but I choose to stop here. I would definitely recommend this movie but in case you are an emotional person like me please carry a box of tissues

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