After
a long lull of around 8 years, I have resumed my writing and what better way to
start than to write about a movie that lingered in my thoughts for some time!
“96”
– the year when a batch passed-out from their 10th standard.
These batch-mates decide to meet after 20 long years in a hotel in Chennai and
with it, bring together a man and a woman, a boy and girl, who were swept away
from each other in the tides of time.
The
man – Ramachandran is played by Vijay Sethupathy and the woman, Janaki played
by Trisha.
Ramachandran -
a travel photographer, a teacher of photography, a man who is on his own,
travelling, eating what he loves, sleeping when he wants to, doing the things
that the married folks are jealous of.
Janaki
– a lovely lady with flawless skin, sharp nose, and a brisk gait.
The
movie starts with an introduction to Ramachandran - a character portrait of
this nomad. Begins with a visit to Thanjavur where Ramachandran has done did
his school studies, a visit to his school and a trip down the memory lane with
the school security guard Janakaraj. How nice it was to hear Janakaraj's
laughter once more! 😊
Ramachandran
initiates the interest of meeting all his school pals to one of his school
friends and WhatsApp spreads the word and network to all the class mates
instantly! Makes me wonder about our lives without WhatsApp and how it was ever
possible?!
The
classmates meet – the once lanky boys and girls with plaits and ribbons, now a
set of bulky men and women in sarees and crying babies. But yet, the laughter
comes back in an instant, hugging and glowing at each other when they meet face
to face.
Ramachandran
meets Janaki – with that opens up a trip back to their school days. A leaner
Vijay and a cuter Trisha – of course a different set of actors playing these
roles. A kudos to the kids playing these roles! Refreshing!
A
nice blossoming of friendship, shyness, affection and love starts between the
two. Makes you smile when Ramachandran’s heart does a loud thud-thud when he
sees Janaki after their love has blossomed. The talking boy becomes mute with
love – the effects of love washing over him showed very well on the young lad’s
face. But before their 10th is over, Vijay’s father shifts his
family overnight from Thanjavur fearing the money-lenders from whom he had
taken loan. Janaki comes to know about this a few days later and with no phones
or any form of e-communication, the couple split. Physically but not
emotionally….
Life
has moved on – Janaki marries and settles in Singapore with a child.
Ramachandran becomes a photographer and remains single.
When
they meet at the gathering, it is as if life didn’t move on. The gathering ends
but Ramachandran and Janaki spend the night roaming in Chennai – travelling in
metro, having tea in a restaurant, and spending the night in Ramachandran’s
apartment, looking at the little trinkets and reminders of Janaki's that
Ramachandran has saved with him in a box – a hair clip, a dupatta and many small
things that only people in love can steal and savor 😊
A few
other scenes deserve special mention too:
- When
Ramachandran sees the Janaki’s mangalsutra hanging around her neck when
Janaki is asleep and when he quickly does a gesture of touching it to his
eyes. A short stop signal to his desire…
- When Janaki
wants Ramachandran to cut his hair like as is he was in his 10th standard
and the way Ramachandran looks once his hair is cut – sheepish,
vulnerable, boyish
- When Janaki
says “You can love someone and you can marry someone else too and be
happy” to Ramachandran’s celibate status
- When
Ramachandran’s heart still does a thud-thud even after 20 years on meeting
Janaki. Janaki touches his chest to feel the “thud”, “thud” falls
Ramachandran to the floor, swooning on the touch. Makes you roll with
laughter on seeing the expressions 😊
Janaki
doesn’t want to lose sight of him that night after having met him after 20 long
years and knowing that Ramachandran has always been loving her.
Why
didn’t they find each other in their college days? Why did they remain silent
and not seek out each other?
Janaki’s
flight back to Singapore is the next morning. Does she take the flight back to
Singapore? Or does she stay back to relive the lost years? Watch the movie to
know this 😊
For
some, it might seem like the movie “Autograph” repeated. But it is not so. While Autograph was good during its time, 96 gets
its well-deserved slot in the heart of lovers and friends. Little emotions
captured well - a walk, a wait – weaved out in a manner that makes you stop and
watch. This movie has been one among the few where the man is shown as a
vulnerable, forever lover who stays alone thinking about his love. A shift
again from the stereo-typed male dominated movies where the man is always a
macho with no place for mushiness.
Vijay
Sethupathy – accolades aren’t needed for him anymore. He competes with himself
with every movie. Be it the man with a salt and pepper beard, a stern teacher
with the intent of teaching perfection to the art, a lover who transforms his
face into a heart, wow! He has marked the new era for heroes!
Trisha
– She brings a smile onto your face. "Bold and Beautiful" is how you can describe
her. Looking forward to seeing her more in Tamil movies.
And
of course, the friends and school mates – ‘Bugs’ and Devadharshini need to be
mentioned for their natural acting and for bringing in the needed laughter to
us.
The
Director/Story teller takes the crown here. Only a few Tamil movies are made in
the same genre as 96.
Movies
like the peacock feather hidden amidst pages of a treasured notebook 😊
Soft….
Kalps
