Gripping love story fires on all cylinders
Trisha’s outstanding performance as Janaki Devi, aka Janu, is her best to date
SLATED to be a mushy love story along the lines of Alaipaayuthe and Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa, 96 was highly anticipated. Add to this the first coming together of Kollywood’s current sensations Vijay Sethupathy and Trisha, the expectations only soared. So does debutant director Prem Kumar deliver with 96?
Ram (Vijay Sethupathy) is a travel photographer who cuts a very lonely character. His travels with his students take him to Thanjavur where he completed his high schooling. He visits his former school. Nostalgia sets in. This results in the spontaneous planning of a reunion of the class of 1996. The reunion is a joyous celebration reliving precious memories and, at the same time, reflecting on a dreadfully sad time for two of the students, Ram (Vijay Sethupathy) and Janu ( Trisha). What is the source of this Starring: Vijay Sethpathy, Trisha, Devadharshini and Janagaraj
Story, Screenplay and Direction: Prem Kumar Rating: ★★★★✩
sadness? Is it remedied? Answers to these questions form the rest of the plot of 96.
Trisha’s outstanding performance as Janaki Devi, aka Janu, has to surely be her best performance to date. Trisha breezes through her role with consummate ease. Given the maintenance of her youthful beauty, it is difficult to believe that she is in the industry for close to 20 years. She still rules as one of the most liked actresses in Kollywood.
Vijay Sethupathy, being the professional that he is, lives his role as Ram, the heartbroken, lonely photographer. His rugged looks add value to the role that he executes so effortlessly. An asset to the industry. Debutant director Prem Kumar scores with this poignant, unadulterated love story. His experience as an award winning cinematographer makes for a visual treat. His attention to detail in sourcing the young actors like Adithya Bhaskar as the younger Ram and Gouri G Kishan as the younger Janu is also applauded.
Devadharshini and Janagaraj offer adequate support.
Some serious editing would have made for a perfect 10/10.
In 96, Prem Kumar shows how a movie devoid of glamour, jarring music, sexual innuendoes, irritating side tracked humour, senseless fight scenes and the inclusion of the proverbial villain can be a blockbuster, even in current times.