96 Movie Review
There’s an unwritten proverb – “Memories of first love lets you cherish at first and lament later”. Perhaps, there are few things in life that comes tagged with pain and joy, if intensely told, the first love could be one among such rare cases. Don’t presume this analysis turning into a poetic comprehension. Yes, there are some diminishing elements, but yes we can try to settle it out on the analytical and emotional context.
The story unfolds the reunion of 96′ batch students, which brings together the once-childhood sweethearts and alienated by fate bounce up each other. Here we meet Ram (Vijay Sethupathi), a travel photographer and Jaanu (Trisha), who has come back all the way from Singapore. Anything more than this would be a spoiler and at the same time, we will like to make it clear, there’s no story more than this. No twists, No Turns, etc
The 157-minute film starts off with flashbacks involving the school days of Ram and Jaanu, where it involves the blossoming moments of first love, their separation and few little crispy twists (Not the mind-boggling one as abovementioned). But there are some shocking surprises as Vijay Sethupathi unfolds the unknown tale to Trisha. And there’s a particular shot, where Trisha gives out her narration to the bunch of Vijay Sethupathi’s students at midnight in the coffee shop, which leaves you astounded.
Yes, the second half slightly drops down the momentum, where we might feel little dragged. But as you become more involved with these characters, your absolute need would be to know how it’s going to end. Especially, the final moments, where there is silence and tears among them with slightest hopes in the audience, we’re sent back home carrying back memories.
Yes, as cited before, these are the equations that balance between the analytical and emotional contexts with 96. Background score by Govind Vasantha is commendably decorous. Cinematography just turns out to be a photographic capture. Watch out for the shot, where Vijay Sethupathi delves into deserts and oceans or the one, where Vijay Sethupathi and Trisha are at the balcony and rest of the apartment lights are shut down. Filmmaker Prem has offered the best that he could do within the space of limited characters. Moreover, when he feels the screenplay slightly getting sluggish, he makes use of Vijay Sethupathi’s traits to make audiences smile.
With the performance, Vijay Sethupathi and Trisha just transform themselves into Ram and Jaanu. This could be one of their finest performances till the date and there’s no second thought about it. They might have performed the best in erstwhile movies, but what works out here is their glue to these roles.
On the whole, 96 has of the finest moments to experience. When it comes to the question of whether there would be repeat audience, it might not be possible, but for sure, it will offer a deep impact for the time you watch it.
Rating: 3.75/5
