96 - A film of Aesthetics and metaphor part 2

 

                           Part -2💛

As we move into the school-day flashbacks of Ram and Janu, the film 96 uses silence as a language of its own. Their eye contact, though speechless, speaks volumes. Words are rare, but the emotions are vivid. Take for instance Janu's birthday scene Ram, hesitant and trembling, is forced to wish her. The nervous sweat, the trembling hands, and eventually, the fainting all reflect not teenage awkwardness, but the deep, respectful, almost sacred love he holds for her.

And then comes the bridge scene where Janu tells him, “Don’t forget me.” A moment, brief and delicate, yet it anchors decades of longing. Amidst all this, their bond with Subha and the core group of five friends adds another layer of warmth and shared memory that survives even after 22 years.

But the true magnum opus of metaphoric storytelling comes with Janu’s entrance at the reunion. She steps into the light from darkness, accompanied by a soulful BGM that mimics the sound of a bird and whale . The metaphor? A bird and whale love each other, but can never live together one flies, the other swims. They remain apart, yet each remembers the other when they see a bird or a wave. That’s Ram and Janu. Apart in life, united in love and memory.

And as Janu walks from darkness into light, it’s symbolic of her life without Ram dimmed, incomplete and her stepping toward the reunion rekindles that light of curiosity, longing, and love.

Another powerful detail? Ram never touches Janu throughout the film. Except for one small gesture pushing the car lever to comfort her a quiet, profound act of solace. This restraint isn’t coldness, it’s honor. It's their way of honoring a past that’s alive but untouchable. Janu, even in her moments of vulnerability, respects Ram’s boundaries, and Ram, in turn, respects her motherhood. It's dignity wrapped in heartbreak.

Janu’s characterization is vivid once bubbly, full of songs, life, and laughter. But at the reunion, she carries a kaleidoscope of emotions nostalgia, joy, regret, anticipation, and the ache of a love paused, not erased. She talks of Ram getting married to another girl, but deep down, she doesn’t really want him to move on. If not she shouldn't have said the she's the wife,That moment when she tells Ram’s student that she is his wife. It’s symbolic, wishful, and perhaps the most human thing she does blurring reality to live her dream, even if just for a moment. This scene is a visual treat to all the souls who anticipates Ram and Janu together! 

And then the metaphor of the song (Yamunai Aatrile) Ram finally watches Janu sing, his 22year old wish come true. The power goes out, and he frantically searches in the dark, then finds a torchlight ( please watch this scene can't express in words). As her voice fills the room, the power comes back on a metaphor of light after longing, of dreams finally illuminating reality.

The climax is just apt leaves us with peace and pain. Not tragedy, not melodrama just apt. They love each other, but they can’t live with each other. Not because she’s married, but because she’s a mother. Ram never pleads, never asks her to stay because his love is not about possession. And Janu, as much as she wants to stay, walks away. Not for herself, but for Meera.

The airport scene is yet another silent metaphor. Two flights. One takes off with Janu. One remains grounded with Ram. Just like their lives moving in parallel, never meeting again. It’s a quiet conclusion, but it leaves an emotional earthquake within.

This is my comfort film. My emotional compass. I’ve watched 96 countless times, and yet it always feels new. Govind Vasantha’s music is nothing short of spiritual, wrapping each scene with emotion, healing, and memory. The recurring use of yellow and green lighting subtly represents the essence of Ram and Janu and their longing.

Janu’s BGM is not just music to me it’s my ringtone, since years and I never wish to change so.

If you’ve not seen 96 yet, I hope my words give you enough reason to. And if you have, I’m sure you’ll revisit it this time, seeing the metaphors between the frames and feeling the silences between the lines.

And I communicate with your minds through my thoughts ✌️💫