Mahesh Dattani’s The Big Fat City: An Exploration of Urban Reality and Change in Societal Dynamics

Abstract

Using Mahesh Dattani’s The Big Fat City, which is a realistic portrayal of life in a contemporary Indian city, this article attempts to analyse the connected themes of urban reality and societal progress that are present in the novel. The disillusionment, alienation, and moral compromises that are inherent in metropolitan existence are something that are investigated in the drama, which takes place in Mumbai. In its capacity as a social force, the city functions as an organic organism, offering a perspective that conflicts with others on human ties. When the characters are unable to notice the passage of time and the shifting social structure, they are put in a difficult situation that causes them to experience sorrow within themselves. In the course of this discussion, we will investigate how Dattani’s novel The Big Fat City functions as an emotionally affecting commentary on the confluence of urban challenges and societal transformation in contemporary India.