Book Review - Ram ℅ ANANDHI - By Akhil P. Dharmajan

I kicked off 2024 on a positive note with some good books. I picked up my pace after reading Benyamin’s “Pravachakanmarude Randam Pusthakam”, Then I finished “Orikkal” from N. Mohanan.  Both were excellent books by veteran writers with their unique language skills. My third attempt was Ram ℅ ANANDHI written by a talented young author, Akhil P Dharmajan. 

One of the reasons I chose to read this book was the marketing and branding behind it. I always admired effective marketing work done with minimal effort. Being a marketing professional, I firmly believe that the greatest marketing is organically built word-of-mouth publicity. 

Before reading the book, I noticed that many of my friends shared endorsements for this work and many romantic reels were flooding my Instagram feed featuring the epic reading experience of this book. Even the publisher, DC Book placed this book as a must-read romantic work and promoted it on Valentine's Day. I guess that's more than enough for a budding reader to buy and brag about it. Whatever it's worth, the marketing team has certainly done a commendable job.

Now, let me share my thoughts on the book,

In the beginning, the author mentioned this would be a Cinematic Novel. To be honest, I thought it was a made-up term. However, with some internet research, I understood that it is a kind of novel that emphasizes elements of visual storytelling. Well, in that broader sense, that could be true. 

The protagonist in this Novel is Ram - an engineering graduate in his twenties who is a cinema enthusiast, pursuing his diploma in filmmaking from Chennai - the dream city of South Indian filmmakers. The novel starts with Ram’s arrival in Chennai and slowly progresses with his life journey. He is meeting many new people on this journey; His friend’s brother, his roommate, the receptionist in his school, 2 friends from his class, An old age lady, etc. The novel revolves around the life of Ram and his friends.  

This novel doesn't reveal anything groundbreaking. The author follows conventional norms, as he portrays Ram as a perfect hero who emphasizes every soul he meets on his journey, He befriends a Transperson from Chennai railway station, who plays an important role in the story afterward. Personally, I felt it was like those Netflix TV Series where they illogically introduce gay characters to promote elements of diversity. Without any surprises, Ram develops a romantic feeling with the mysterious lady receptionist from school (who is conveniently of his age and well-connected to his best friends). 

In various sections of the novel, we encounter some cliche scenes that we would have seen a million times in Cinemas. Especially the part where the heroine misses the train and the hero comes to rescue her, the unknown adventures that await them on their journey, and their intervention with strangers who surprisingly offer kindness and compassion. To justify the mysterious nature of heroine, later the author develops a refuge/insurgent background to the female lead.

Well, mostly the novel was a roller coaster ride with cliche- boring and predictable scenes. The novel's character development lacks solidity and, at times, becomes monotonous and unengaging. If this book is adapted into a movie, I believe Vineet Sreenivasan, the Malayalam director, would be an excellent choice for directing. (Strictly personal opinion, and no offense is intended.)

To Conclude, 

This book was a quick read for me, averaging about 100 pages a day. In contrast, I'm struggling to finish Benyamin's "Manjaveyil Maranagal." The reason is straightforward. This book offers a casual reading experience, with simple and basic language, requiring little contemplation. As the author himself states in the beginning, it's a Cinematic Novel with many likable frames. It fits well for light, one-night stand-style reading, but unfortunately, I was looking for more of a permanent commitment.

(Disclaimer: The views expressed are purely personal and This is not an expert review, As you already know I lack the knowledge and training to do so.)