Book Review: Ram C/o Anandhi by Akhil P. Dharmajan.

Ram C/o Anandhi written by Akhil P. Dharmajan

This book was, and still is, a sensation on Bookstagram, creating a stir among readers and encouraging them to give it a try. Let me first take a moment to appreciate the beautiful cover, which portrays all the important characters in the story and gives us a visual representation of them. However, I still prefer the characters' faces that I envisioned in my imagination through the author's narration (which you will find at the end of this review).

Ram aka Sriram,  is the male lead of the story. He is from Kerala and came to Chennai to take a film course. This is where he meets Anandi, the female lead, who works as a receptionist at the same film college. The first meeting between these two characters doesn’t go well. However, just as I was settling in for a breezy, cinematic romantic read, the book reveals its true depth, exploring themes like friendship, social issues, transgender struggles, and more. Essentially, this book spans multiple genres and emotions that I didn’t expect, which left me pleasantly surprised.  Beyond its lighthearted exterior, the book delves into complex themes, offering much more than I originally expected. Characters like Malli, Vetri, and Patti all add an extra layer of spice to this comforting, cozy book. The whole story flows around them, alongside the main leads.

Now my review follows:

As the author mentioned, this is not a book that delves deeply into literature or features the authentic, classic narration found in rich literary novels, which I agree with. I also enjoyed reading the author's note and his authentic Chennai style welcome. 

This book is a simple, contemporary, free-flowing novel with an emotional touch to it. The transgender character is portrayed well, and their struggles and the violence they face are described vividly. The character of Anandi is introduced with a hint of mystery at the start of the story, sparking curiosity to read on and uncover more. I really liked this subtle build-up of curiosity in the narrative. I also relish how the characters in this book are limited, making it easier for me to follow them smoothly throughout the story. Since I am based in Chennai, I wanted to share more, but out of respect for the author's request, I am holding back from spilling any spoilers and am simply sharing my thoughts on this book.

While the book doesn’t adhere to a specific genre, theme, or core plot, its narration keeps you engaged, urging you to flip through the pages. Somehow, the book feels extremely comforting to read due to its contemporary, casual dialogue delivery. The reading experience is easy, effortless, and flows smoothly, like a gentle stream. This book could certainly help readers overcome reading slumps, loss of motivation to read, or those who have lost touch with reading for a long time, thanks to its simple, everyday conversational style.

Some Tamil references were raw, especially the funny conversations among friends, and I can’t agree more that it perfectly relates to today's reality, as such words are commonly used. A small suggestion to the author: in Tamil, the slang term is "Aravani," not "Aruvani." Even better, he could have used the term "Thirunangai," which would have been more beautiful and widely appreciated.

This book could easily be adapted into a movie or series and would undoubtedly be a blockbuster hit. As I read, I could already imagine the BGM, the curly-haired heroine, and the innocent hero and so on. As I mentioned in the intro, my imagination of these characters was even better than the cover picture. I agree with the author, reading this book feels like watching a commercial movie.

Also, I'd like to give one small reference to the reason why this book connected with many, even though it is a normal contemporary fiction book, and why it felt so refreshing after reading. If you remember the movie Geetha Govindham, it was a hit despite the same known story, and sometimes we need and will like the familiar story, known story to give us that comfortable feel. That’s what Ram C/o Anandhi provided to its readers.

My final verdict: An entertaining, emotional book with simplified, vivid narration—a great one-time read.

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