A couple of weeks more for Diwali but there has been no dearth of quality movies in Tamil with movies like "Kolamavu Kokila", "CCV", etc., to name a few. One of the major positives in Mani Ratnam's "CCV" was Vijay Sethupathi & incidentally, we have yet another flick from him this week in the form of "96" where he's paired with Trisha Krishnan. Apart from the unique star cast, the trailer & the sound tracks were impressive as well which further aroused my curiosity. So will it be yet another winner for Sethupathi???
Ramachandran (Sethupathi) is a travel photographer who on his trip to his hometown Thanjavur pays a visit to his school. The experience overwhelms him with nostalgia which sets in motion the idea of a reunion for their batch that had passed out in 1996. It was at this function that he meets with his teenage lover Janu (Trisha) after 22 years. Soon they realise that though destiny took them along separate paths & they have grown older, the love that they had for each other was still very much alive. The movie then takes us down their memory lane & how they looked forward to each other being happy in life.
This is the debut venture of C Prem Kumar who made a name for himself with the cinematography of "Nadavula Konjam Pakkatha Kaanom". Without mincing words, I have to admit that Prem has done a wonderful job & didnt seem like an amateur in the manner that he has gone about his task. Since he had penned the script as well, he had a perfect idea as to how he wanted it to be projected on celluloid. Actually to be frank, there wasnt much of a script as he has relied more on realistic situation rather than cinematic freedom. Even though the movie has a soul of its own, it did remind me of "Before Sunset" & "Autograph" in some parts. The beauty of the screenplay is that we could feel the love that the protagonists had for each other without having to put it in words. A significant portion of that praise is the sole right of the talented pair, coz if it wasnt for Sethupathi & Trisha, the story wouldn't have had the desired effect.
Another key factor is Govind Menon's music (of Thaikkudam Bridge) that was both soulful & enhances the romantic mood which was also done by the legendary Illayaraja's music that comes up in various segments. I pretty much liked all the tracks though I would choose 'Vasantha Kaalangal' rendered by Chinmayi as my favourite track. As expected, Sethupathi was brilliant & re-emphasized that he is beyond doubt one of the finest actors in the industry. It's been a while since I have seen Trisha in a meaningful role & the last time that I actually loved her performance was in "VTV" & "Thoongaavanam". This will surely rank as one of her best career roles & she deserves all the accolades. Equally impressive were Aaditya Bhaskar & Gouri Kishan, who had played the parts of the younger Ram & Janu. Even though the others didnt have much to do, Varsha Bollama, Bhagavathi Perumal etc., did their roles aptly.
Verdict: Surely one of the finest romantic movies that I have watched in this decade. I have come across very few stories that has been so effective in conveying love without words. It will surely make many of us nostalgic of the times that has gone by & keep us vested in the movie. In short, dont miss it!!!
Rating: 3.5/5
Regards...Ben
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