The soundtrack of "96" is so integral to the film that it's impossible to say whether the story was built around the music or the music composed for the story like a glove. Either way, Govind Vasantha's work doesn't just accompany the narrative—it is the narrative, carrying emotion that words cannot reach.
This is a definite break from Bollywood convention—no dancing, no spectacle. Just excellent performances across the board, particularly from Vijay Sethupathi and Trisha Krishnan, who convey years of longing and regret through the quietest gestures.
This film works on two levels. On the surface, it's deeply emotional, a bittersweet reunion between first loves separated by time and circumstance. But on a deeper level, "96" is about the personal journey we all navigate, the questions we ask ourselves in quiet moments: What if I had done something different here? It echoes Robert Frost's two roads diverging in a yellow wood, and the choices that define us.
Personally, I always fall back on Carlos Castaneda's shaman, Don Juan, who reminds us: "There are no wrong paths, so make sure you have chosen a path with heart." "96" understands this wisdom. It's not about regret for the road not taken, but about honoring the love that shaped us, even if we couldn't keep it.
