Vijay Sethupathi and Trisha-starrer Tamil film 96 is all set to re-release in theatres on October 9 for the third time. Helmed by C Prem Kumar, the romantic drama was first released in 2018, and continues to strike a chord with audiences even today. The film is known for its portrayal of first love, nostalgia and unfinished relationships.
Prem Kumar on how he wrote 96
During an exclusive chat with NDTV, Prem Kumar, who’s currently working on a film with Fahadh Faasil, opened up about the enduring love he has received for the film over the years. “It is overwhelming. Every year, I put up a poster marking the film’s anniversary, whether it is two years, three years or eight years of 96. The response I receive every time is mind-blowing. It’s unimaginable for a film to receive so much love, even though it is just a movie. It is beyond my comprehension,” says the director.
He further recalled that he penned this story during the floods in Chennai in December 2015, saying, “I strongly believe, and I am not saying this out of humility, that the story chooses me. It is not me who chooses the story. That is how 96 happened, and that is how the film with Fahadh Faasil happened as well. Sometimes a story chooses me, but the time isn’t right for it to materialise. Recently, I finished a script based on an idea I had in 2002 and I’ll be starting to shoot for that next.”
Was Jyotika the first choice for 96?
The director also addressed reports of Jyotika being approached to play the role of Jaanu in the film initially. He dismissed the speculations, saying, “Without a doubt, my first choice was Trisha. There were some date issues as she was working in several films and since I had Vijay Sethupathi’s dates, there was pressure from various sides to consider someone else. Then Trisha’s schedule was rearranged, and I was able to get her dates to match Sethu’s. Everything eventually fell into place. I never thought I would direct 96 when I was writing it. I simply wanted to write a script and give it to a director who could make the film. But when I was writing the script, I had Sethu and Trisha in mind and they also liked the script. I write my scripts having certain actors in mind as I need to visualise the characters. Similarly, while writing Meiyazhagan, I had Rajinikanth sir and Kamal Haasan sir in mind.”
The acclaimed romantic drama 96 returns to theatres for the third time on October 9 in Tamil Nadu.
96 director reveals if Jyotika was the first choice before Trisha
