JANVI DHARSHNA JD

Just finished reading Ram c/o Anandhi, by Akhil. P Dharmajan. The very first novel I ever read in Malayalam, despite my limited fluency it struck deep chord. Being a Chennaite everything about the novel felt so real, right from - the people, the places, their way of living, habitat and habits where so alive. This novel set in a third person narrative felt like watching a feel good movie. Beginning with the protagonist Sriram denoted as "Ram" wins the heart just being simple and most importantly being human. All the characters who are completely different from each other gets United under one roof. Ram, an aspiring youth with the dream of Making movies and writing a novel, by experiencing life relocates from his hometown (Kerala) . Ram grows psychologically from being an innocent soul to learning lives. He extends his heart and moral values too, also ensures enjoying his life to the best. The other characters such as Vetri, Reshma and Anandhi (the female lead) and also "Patti" The super energetic yet old aged women are involved in redirecting his life in better way. Turning spotlights on the characters equally especially, Malli the transgender, degraded by the society yet the author sculpted with dignity and more human. This novel isn't just about the characters, but truth painted in rare grace. By the last page it wasn't just my eyes that welled, my heart overflows. I wish this novel could have a sequel just to make the journey complete. It's a moving portrayal of Love, Loss, Betrayal and what the world simply forgot nowadays- being human. "Some stories didn't just end they exist as breath, and it's one of a kind".