96 - A film of Aesthetics and metaphor 💛

 

              

                          My favourite film💛 

96 isn't just a movie it's a feeling. Released in 2018 as director Prem Kumar's debut, this Tamil masterpiece has stayed with me like a memory you don't want to let go of. For me, it's the ultimate feel-good film, one I keep going back to every week. It’s not just about love it’s about nostalgia, missed chances, and silent emotions that never fade.

The story unfolds at a 1996 batch school reunion. After 22 long years, Ram and Janu, childhood sweethearts, meet again. Janu is now married and a mother, while Ram has remained a bachelor, choosing solitude over moving on. But it’s not just the plot that makes the film special it’s the aesthetics, metaphors, and the visual storytelling that elevate it.

Let me share a few aesthetic observations that deeply moved me:

Ram as a Travel Photographer: In the introduction, Ram travels alone, embracing solitude, as if he’s still lingering in his past. The song "Life of Ram" visually narrates his journey he’s alone in every frame, but never bitter. He celebrates loneliness as a space filled with memories.

The Apple Scene: There’s a moment where Ram jumps repeatedly to pluck an apple from a tree, but fails. It’s a subtle metaphor no matter how much effort he puts in, Janu will never be his. Beautiful and heartbreaking.

Feeding the Deer: A deer hesitates, then takes food from Ram, and walks away. Later in the film, Ram and Janu share a quiet meal before he leaves her at the airport. The deer mirrors Janu she comes into his life briefly, shares a moment, and leaves.

The Parrots in the School Scene: When Ram revisits his old school in Tanjore, he sees a parrot sitting alone. Another one comes, plays briefly, and then flies away. Isn't it the whole story of 96 in a single shot? Ram is the first parrot. Janu is the visitor? How beautiful it is to convey them...

Eye Contact and Silence: There’s not much talk  between Ram and Janu, their eyes speak volumes. The school love is shown not in drama, but in glances, pauses, and expressions. It’s deeply raw and real.

Ram’s Characterization: He starts off as mature and independent. But when he enters his classroom, a switch flips. He becomes the schoolboy again playful, nostalgic, even celebrating eating a full badam seed with the old watchman (whom he still calls his Kaval Deivam). He didn’t grow past his teenage love. He even changes his hairstyle and clothes for Janu. And when Janu cries, all he wants is to bring her peace. He never oversteps, never complains. He respects her past, even offering a silent prayer for her wedding chain. He never wanted to see janu crying,that he consoled everytime and planned to get another ticket to Singapore to stay a little longer with Janu. Though Ram is incomplete without Janu, he's still concerned about Janu more than himself..

The director has sprinkled metaphors like fairy dust throughout the film. Each frame speaks. Each scene has a layer. And the beauty is, the more you watch, the more you discover.

To me, 96 is not just about love lost it's about love preserved. Unchanged. Pure. Eternal.

I'm sure I have a lot more to reveal about this film and convince each and everyone to watch this film noticing the above details and enjoying as much as I did..

So will continue the rest in part 2..!

And I communicate with your minds through my thoughts ✌️ 💫