A Slice of Sublime

Rakshit Shetty and Charlie in 777 Charlie

Most Indian films today pay obeisance to the tried and tested formula of in-your-face violence, over the top vulgarity, clichéd plot, pathetic script and loud histrionics. In this ‘theatre’ of the absurd there sometimes appears a ‘slice’ of sublime. 777 Charlie is one such movie which is like a gentle zephyr in the Tsunami of crass entertainment.

It is an endearing tale of an enduring connect between a man and a guppy (I don’t like to use the word dog for a canine since it has become a term of abuse thanks to Dharmendra and his ilk – kutte tera khooon pee jaunga – so I call man’s best friend Grown up Puppy or Guppy).

Ramen has “ghost-written” The Canine Chronicles on behalf of his beloved guppy Aryan.

Directed by Kiranraj K with Rakshit Shetty in the lead, it is sure to appeal to you even if you are not a guppy lover. Dharma (Rakshit) a misanthrope is happy in his angst ridden existence when Charlie enters his life and turns it upside down. His transformation from a bitter, cynical individual to a sensitive, empathetic, selfless and yes, a capeless hero is what the narrative is all about.

Charlie, in the eponymous role, and Rakshit put up a stunning performance and their chemistry is sure to melt your heart. The rest of the characters do justice to their roles. The direction, cinematography, script, dialogues and music – every facet of the movie is brilliant. The bitter-sweet denouement is poignant and provides a perfect end to an almost perfect movie.

The only drawback in the film is that the second half is a tad too long. There is a rather long sequence of a dog show which could have been avoided.

To sum up 777 Charlie is a must-see film that restores once faith in a good, meaningful cinema which doesn’t stoop to conquer.

Also read some beautiful memoirs by Ramen on his guppy:

The God Of Beautiful Things
Aryan will always remain with us: in our hearts and minds and souls. I can’t find words to thank him for giving us myriad moments of pristine joy, unconditional love and a treasure trove of endearing memories.

Having His Way, Undisputed!
At the slightest opportunity he would slip into the bathroom or the tank in the garden, get thoroughly wet and then charge at everything and everyone in sight.Musings

The Canine Chronicles

By Ramendra Kumar
Available on Amazon India | Flipkart | Blue Pencil | Amazon.com

THE CANINE CHRONICLES

About the Author

Ramendra Kumar ( 117 Posts)

Ramendra Kumar (Ramen) is a children’s writer with 38 books to his name. He has won 34 awards in the competition for writers of children’s literature organised by Children’s Book Trust (CBT), over the years. He also dabbles in satire, poetry, fiction and travelogues. His writings have been translated into 15 Indian and 14 foreign languages and have also found a place in text books, as well as national and international anthologies. A much sought after inspirational speaker and story teller, Ramen has been invited to participate in several conferences and festivals. These include the IBBY Congress of Children’s Writers in Denmark (2008) & Greece (2018) and Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (2019), apart from many literary events across the country. In the Congress held in Greece he was the only writer from India to be invited to chair two sessions. An Engineer and an MBA, Ramen is former General Manager & Chief of Communications, SAIL, Rourkela Steel Plant. He is the father of two children who are bonsai celebrities in their own right. While Ankita is a youth icon and a travel blogger with an Instagram following of 76K, Aniket creates cool Apps and designs covers for his Dad's books. His website is www.ramendra.in
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