96 -- A PRISTINE LOVE STORY

  Not a film but An amalgamation of         pulchritudinous love and emotions

The troglodytic concept of unrequited love being depicted in the  films has always made me feel puking my guts out. Recently when one of my friends from the inner circle suggested me a Telugu-hindi dubbed movie --"96"  that hovered around the concept of besotted love , I felt like throwing him under a road roller because every single person in my vicinity is  very much aware with my fascination for thriller and action packed films and the level of despisement in my pocket for all the hogwash love centric drama.    

After vehment recommendations from my kins and friends , reluctantly decided to give it a try just for the sake of  satiating my soul so that I don't appear to be  the odd one out especially when every friend of mine is acting as a cheaper version of "RAJEEV MASAND" on the table. 

A movie that started with me not being very much enthralled and fervid , sooner started acting as a pair of  tongs thereby making slight vibrations on my emotional cords. The insatiable hunger in my eyes that was incessantly searching for thrill, action and excitement at the onset of the movie was now slowly and gradually getting assuaged as the movie proceeded. There wasn't even a slightest bit of action , no fancy cars , no item songs ,no 18+scenes , no junkie one-liners/punches ,no pugnacious villans  but still the entire movie ride of two hour kept me glued to my dining chair with my eyes refusing to divert from the screen even for a second.  The plot revolves around two lovers who met after  span of 20 years in a reunion party , both started reminiscing about their teen days . A common plot backed with magnificent story and extraordinary acting skills thereby elevating the film to all together on a different level

A feeling  experienced by every teen ager for someone special that he fails to comprehends fully , a feeling for which he vouchsafes a million advices, blossoming of puppy love that force him/her to go to unfathomable heights for bringing a slight reflection of grim on the face of the one he/she admires. The most genuine and pristine  feeling that is devoid of any elements of jealousy , hatred , cajolery,  where insecurities and possessiveness appears cute , where holding hands signify a special connect , where sharing from same tiffin box is a way for reinvograting that bond , where you intentionally/willingly refuse to place text books in your school bag in order to  enjoy the moment of sharing book with the person you admire , where the entire class knows about the love story being cooked between the two except those involved in it , where your infatuation story forms a more sensational headline than the toppers report card.

The movie "96"  has not only exquisitively captured all these bunch of unnamed feelings but also ensures to wet your  eyes as with each scene passing by , you are compelled to reminisce about the past. One can easily locate himself in the very face of actors and because of that your connect with the story of film even becomes more robust. The flute music being played in the background is like a cherry to the cake  embellishing the beauty of the love story being displayed. Numerous scenes present in the film that aren't wrapped with grief or sorrow but still one can feel the numbness within his eyes and silence within his mind and soul while watching them. , Scenes that aren't stuffed with any sense of humour or comic punch lines but still bring a wide smile on your face , and scenes where you fail to refrain your mind from imagining yourself as the leading hero of the story while the girl you admired as your beloved heroine, scenes where you strongly wished for some supernatural power making you enter the screen and rewrite the plot that ensures a happy ending.

The movie made a clarion call about the fact that a dance like prabhudeva or big biceps like Arnold are not the prerequisites to deliver a blockbuster,  a hero with tummy and haphazard clothing style is also capable of capturing the eyes of the audience with a weapon called "ACTING"  that transcends way above good looks , dance and glamour . Another imperative message that the film delivers is that in this era where adultery, extramarital affairs , immolating the  lives of your family to be with your lover , eloping with your beloved are no more an uncommon thing , amidst such scenario respecting the decision exercised by the person you admire or enamored  and accepting and moving on with the fact that  love story that was one shared between you both  hasn't reached the doors of success , rather than compelling them to elope by setting ablaze all your responsibilities and family lives indicates the true sense and meaning of love. Not every love story is destined to be fulfilled but then rather than crying about it or getting depressed , one needs to embrace wth open arms those happy days of compassion and  thrill and should feel elated about the same. 

I still regret why I refused catering to my friends advice in the very first place , 96 is not a movie but magnificent piece of creativity and emotions that will pluck your soul from your existential crisis and will place it in the old golden days of teen age when infatuation and insecurities walked hand in hand ,when competition and jealousy were nowhere around and when sitting with that special person was like a dream come true bestowing you with a feeling of being  invictus and superior than your rest of the classmates and when the film  ends there will be an eccentric amalgamated feeling of happiness and sadness with your eyes being wet , a dim smile on the  face and mind completely sunked in an eerie silence.