Tamil film ‘96’ a love story that blows in like a fresh whiff of air

By Mythily Ramachandran

Cinematographer turned director Prem Kumar wins hearts with this pristine love tale that leaves a lump in your throat

Like all school reunions this one takes a 1996 year batch of students on a nostalgic road.
Ram (Vijay Sethupathi) and Jaanu (Trisha), who were in love at school- but lost track of each other due to certain circumstances- are meeting after twenty-two long years.
Will it rekindle the old flames, wonder their close friends?

Much water has flown under the bridge since Ram and Jaanu last met in school as teenagers. Ram is now a professional photographer. Jaanu lives in Singapore with her husband and daughter. 

After the reunion is over and the good-byes have been done with, Ram and Jaanu find some time alone. It’s just a couple of hours together before Jaanu boards her flight to Singapore.

Cinematographer turned director, Prem Kumar builds within those few hours a beautiful and emotional tale that speaks from the heart and untainted by this era of instant gratification. 

With ’96’ Kumar finds a firm footing as a director of immense promise.

Teenage years and school crushes walk hand in hand. ‘96’ belongs to that era when whatsapp was unknown. Ram  and Jaanu spoke with their eyes. The three magical words were never uttered aloud. In fact Ram is the shy guy. What makes this relationship unique is that it never dies.

So even after two decades when Ram and Jaanu meet at the school reunion, their love and respect for each other has not changed.

Unlike most romantic tales, ‘96’ does not ride piggy back on silly duets, and contrived romantic encounters. Although it takes a while to warm up in the first half, there is a spontaneous flow in the narration. Its love in all its purity-lust never mentioned. 

Director Kumar’s writing is free of malice towards life and about acceptance-as the two protagonists show. Vijay Sethupathi and Trisha both consummate actors share a beautiful onscreen chemistry. They are terrific. 

If Sethupathi’s effortless performance as Rasool in ‘Chekka Chivantha Vaanam’ had us hooting for him, his Ram- the man who loves tenderly and with no expectations- is every woman’s dream guy.  Trisha makes her Jaanu endearing-laudable is her mature acting.   

Actors Aaditya Bhaskar as young Ram and Gouri G Kishan as young Jaanu cannot be easily forgotten. It’s an impressive debut. Devadarshini and Bhagavathy Perumal as close friends of Ram and Jaanu keep us chuckling. 

After watching gory thrillers or hard to laugh at comedies, and marble like romantic stories, Prem Kumar’s ‘96’ is a classic love story that will be fondly remembered. It’s neat. There are no lines and jokes that will leave you squirming in your seat. 

Hey Jude-A feel good entertainer that talks about accepting people for who they are

‘Hey Jude’ is a Malayalam romantic tale that does not fit into the regular template of love stories. Directed by Shyamaprasad and based on script written by Nirmal Sahadev and George Kanatt, ‘Hey Jude’ carries a sensitive message on Asperger’s Syndrome.

Jude (Nivin Pauly), a young software professional loves crunching numbers and leaves his father speechless when he mentally multiplies two five digit numbers-faster than his father’s calculator.
His other love is studying fishes. Jude can spend hours observing them. Finicky about his diet-he loves really crisp dosas and will not eat beans; Jude follows his eating schedule with a military regimen. There are times when child like he stomps angrily into his room. At work his boss considers Jude an intelligent worker. Jude’s candid nature and honesty- traits not at all appreciated by his father, Dominique (Siddique)-is what makes him lovable.

Dominique manages an antique- goods store and has no scruples about telling his customers-“This is the only piece available in India. There might be another one in London museum,” when actually he has several more inside. 

Jude’s mother Maria (Neena Kurup) is a homemaker spending time in prayers. Jude’s younger sister, the street smart Andrea finds delight in making her brother the butt of jokes. 

Following the demise of his aunt, Dominique arrives in Goa with Maria and Jude. And, the miser, who counts every penny, cannot contain his joy on learning that his aunt has bequeathed her property to him and Jude.
However, his happiness is short-lived after he learns about the tenant living in the outhouse, - a retired psychiatrist Sebastian (Vijay Menon) and his daughter Crystal (Trisha). Dominique cannot evict them now since their rental lease expires only after two years. Dominique’s problem is compounded further when he sees that Jude is spending more  time at the Sebastian home and with Crystal. Get the drift.

The writing is fantastic. Every character is  distinctly carved with their own quirks. Crystal who runs a café on the beaches of Goa is an antithesis to Jude. A fun loving party-animal, this vocalist of a music band enjoys swimming while the socially -awkward Jude  is petrified of water.

The actors completely own their roles-Nivin Pauly in Jude’s shoes has gained weight. His nerdy appearance with glasses, shirt buttoned to the top and that perpetual anxious look on his face makes Jude real.
I loved Jude’s daily ritual of recording his diary into a video camera.
The scene between Jude and Crystal in an intimate moment is cute, with Jude running away when Crystal wants to kiss him. That was a class act by Pauly.

Trisha brings Crystal with an attitude that only she is capable of. If Siddique was the understanding father in ‘Aadhi’ his Dominique is a contrast to Aadhi’s father. Vijay Menon’s Sebastian is a nice surprise. Neat humour is woven into the story especially scenes involving Dominique and his one -upmanship with Sebastian. Aju Verghese also entertains in a cameo role.
DOP Gangadharan takes viewers on a visually appealing journey from Kerala to Goa.  

Drawing awareness to Asperger’s Syndrome and bi-polar disorder in the most sensitive manner without subjecting the characters to ridicule, ‘Hey Jude’ is a fun ride and not a story of pity and melodrama-rather a story of self-discovery by Jude and Crystal.