Book Review
Title: Ram C/o Anandhi
Author: Akhil P Dharmajan
Translator: Haritha C K
Publisher: HarperCollins
India, 2025
Pages: 303
The author tells us in his prefatory note that “this
(is) a cinematic novel.” Don’t read it as literary work but imagine it as a
movie. That is exactly how this novel feels like: an action-packed thriller.
The story revolves around Ram, a
young man who lands in Chennai for joining a diploma course in film making, and
Anandhi, receptionist of Ram’s college. Then there are their friends: Vetri and
his half-sister Reshma, and Malli who is a transgender. An old woman, who is
called Paatti (grandmother) by everyone and is the owner of the house where
three of the characters live, has an enviably thrilling role in the plot.
In one of the first chapters, Ram and
Anandhi lock horns over a trifle. That leads to some farcical action which agitates
Paatti’s bees which in turn fly around stinging everyone. Malli, the aruvani
(transgender), saves the narrative from becoming mere slapstick comedy in those
initial pages. Through the character of Malli, the novelist endeavours to give
us insightful glimpses into the lives of certain transgenders known as aruvanis
in Tamil Nadu. The novel acquires some depth because of Malli and her transgender
sorority.
The novel is not about transgenders,
of course. It is about love and relationships, loss and longing, fate vs free
will, and emotional resilience. The initial squabble between Ram and Anandhi
metamorphoses into romance, though the romance is destined to be one-way
because Anandhi has a mission which won’t permit any romance. Anandhi’s mission
is top secret and so it creates a whole lot of misunderstandings that entwine
the plot into an exciting drama which threatens to end in melodrama but is
saved by certain twists and turns of fiction as well as fate.
There is a lot of electrifying suspense
in the novel and the novelist is entirely successful in keeping us hooked to
the pages. I completed reading the novel in a single day: about seven hours of
reading. A couple of villainous police officers add much to the final spices
that not only stimulate our tastebuds but also intoxicate our fancy. A dash of
history that gets intertwined with the fictional narrative in the climax adds
much pathos to the novel which could have become bathos in the hands of a
lesser writer.
The original Malayalam edition of this
novel has seen 28 editions and has topped the best-selling chart among Indian
language books. That’s a bit surprising. I am told that certain marketing
strategies brought about such success. D C Ravi, the publisher of the Malayalam
edition and one of the top book publishers in Kerala, has ascribed the success
of the book to the romance-themed content which today’s youngsters want.
Indeed, the book is for youngsters. The
author himself offers a caution in his initial note: “If you are an avid reader
of literature, my storytelling style might disappoint you.” Well, it didn’t
disappoint me though it didn’t enrich me anyway either. It entertained me
immensely.
PS.
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Hari OM
ReplyDeleteTo be properly entertained is a worthy enough thing, because so much of what passes for that these days really isn't... YAM xx
True. Entertainment is a value added product 😊
DeleteEntertainment is completely valid for books. Not all need to enrich someone's experience.
ReplyDeleteThat's one reason why this book was a runaway success, I guess.
DeleteNever heard of the term "aruvanis" I will google it.
ReplyDeleteIt's Tamil, an Indian language.
DeleteSeems interesting. Shall give it a read as and when!
ReplyDeleteLight reading particularly suitable for a flight or train journey.
Delete