The Role of Music in Amit Chaudhuri’s Fiction: A Critical Examination
Dr. Samrat Banerjee1, Dr. R.M. Jha2
1Assistant Professor of English,
Sarala Birla University, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India Email:
samratbanerjee2009@gmail.com
2Associate Professor of English, Sarala Birla University,
Ranchi, Jharkhand, India Email: radha.madhab@sbu.ac.in.
ABSTRACT
Amit Chaudhuri’s fiction is deeply infused with music, serving as both a narrative device and a thematic element that enriches his storytelling. His works explore the intersection of music and identity, using classical, popular, and Western influences to shape character development and cultural discourse. Chaudhuri’s unique blending of musical traditions reflects his engagement with history, memory, and postcolonial concerns, offering a nuanced critique of modernity and tradition. This study critically examines the role of music in his novels, analysing how it enhances aesthetic sensibilities, influences the narrative structure, and functions as a metaphor for broader sociocultural transitions. The present paper also explores the lyrical and introspective narrative style of Amit Chaudhuri, a key feature that distinguishes his works within contemporary Indian literature. Through closely reading novels such as A Strange and Sublime Address and The Immortals, the present paper examines how Chaudhuri uses language to construct complex layers of memory, identity, and cultural belonging. By focusing on his nuanced portrayal of middle-class Indian life, this study highlights the author’s ability to weave personal recollections with broader socio-cultural reflections. Through these explorations, the paper underscores Chaudhuri’s unique contribution to modern Indian fiction and his capacity to create a reflective and introspective literary space that speaks to universal themes of human experience. The present paper is an honest attempt to attract the readers' attention to the Role of Music in Amit Chaudhuri’s Fiction, who is not only a great novelist but also one of the foremost voices in contemporary Indian literature. The research scholar further writes that music, particularly Indian classical music, is not just a background element in his novels but a profound narrative tool that weaves together the themes of identity, memory, and cultural transformation.
Keywords: Amit Chaudhuri, narrative style, introspection, memory, identity, language, cultural belonging, nostalgia, alienation, middle-class India, postcolonial literature
