Title: The Music Makers 

Author: Rohini Paranjpe Sathe

Genre: Fiction 

Publisher: Om Books

Pages : 346

Trigger warning: There's plenty of graphic description of domestic abuse.

The Music Makers is a magnificently written emotional story that spreads over 3 siblings and their families. While starting the book, one might wonder why the name Music Makers. The husband of one of the female protagonist Sumati, is an award winning singer, and Sumati herself used to be a prominent vocalist. Does these two characters dictate the title of this book? However as I read through, I realised that music is the main weaving factor in this familial saga and it's this music that brings the estranged families together in the end.

The initial 3 chapters are a bit slow , but catches up on rapid action afterwards. One thing leads to another and the book is unputdownable.

Each chapter is written from her character's perspective, like in one chapter Sumati is speaking, in another, it's her sister, Vibha. Then Medha, Vibha's daughter in law and so on.

Sumati is married to the great singer "Buwa" who is so much senior to him (it's his second marriage). Her younger sister Vibha is married to a filthy rich businessman, who ill treats her and abuses her every single day (he has a rage problem). Vibha has a son who's married to his love Medha and they have a son together. Their brother Ashok lives in the US. They are not on proper talking terms with each other because of ego issues. 

When Kartik, Vibha's son goes missing under mysterious circumstances, the siblings come together, after decades. After a badly battered Kartik finds his way to his Mavshi after months, the sisters decide to bury their egos and give him the liberty to lead life on his own, away from his father's torture. The way music brings everyone together, is absolutely moving and profoundly blissful.

The story is high on drama, emotions, empathy and of course music. If you are a classical music connoisseur, you will love this story even more. There is a glossary given at the beginning, which is kind of a crash course for some of the music terms.

It also serves a lesson as to how bad company and drugs can destroy lives. And as parents, we should be more understanding and empathetic about our kids, not to forget, be grateful for having them, because somewhere someone is yearning for a child and is unable to.

If an emotional family drama with a practical ending is your jam, do give this novel a read. These kind of stories should reach the readers far and wide.

My rating: 5/5

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