#Review: A Melody in Mysore by Shruthi Rao

A Melody in Mysore transports us to Mysore in 1932—a place untouched by the blazing fires of the freedom movement sweeping across the rest of India. But don’t let that serene setting fool you. This book is like a gramophone playing a melody that starts softly but soon swells, filling every corner of your mind.

We follow twelve-year-old Leela, whose life, up until now, has been quiet, just like her city. The freedom movement? It’s just ink on paper, distant and impersonal. Enter Malathi Akka—a character who is less of a person and more of a force. With her comes not just a gramophone but the winds of change, fresh ideas, and a perspective that cracks Leela’s sheltered world wide open.

What I loved about this book is how it shows that revolution isn’t always about marches or loud slogans. Sometimes, it’s about the slow burn of realization, the quiet conversations that linger long after they’ve ended, and the unexpected allies who guide us. For Leela, the freedom struggle becomes more than just a story in the newspapers; it becomes a song she can’t stop humming—a melody that calls her to action in ways she never thought possible.

This isn’t just a story about the broader independence movement; it’s a story about a girl discovering her power to choose, to act, and to imagine a world beyond the boundaries set for her. A Melody in Mysore is like peeling back layers of history but through the eyes of children who were not just passive observers but participants in their own right.

If you’re looking for a book that sweeps you off your feet and plants you firmly in the shoes of those who lived through the complexities of India’s fight for independence, this one should be next on your list. Leela’s journey is subtle yet powerful, much like the song of freedom itself—quiet at first but impossible to ignore once it starts playing.

Find this book here.