Underlying theme (7)

I believe the answer is:

subtext

'underlying theme' is the definition.
(a secondary theme or message)

This is the entire clue.

(Other definitions for subtext that I've seen before include "Something implied" , "Unwritten meaning" , "Level of deeper meaning" , "Underlying theme" , "Implicit meaning" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald and The Times.

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