Malgudi Days (TV series)

Malgudi Days is an Indian television series that started in 1986,[1] and was filmed in both English (first 13 episodes) and Hindi (all 54 episodes), based on the 1943 short story collection of the same name by R. K. Narayan. The series was directed by Kannada actor and director Shankar Nag. Carnatic musician L. Vaidyanathan composed the score, while R. K. Narayan's younger brother and acclaimed cartoonist R. K. Laxman was the sketch artist.[2] The series was made by film producer T.S. Narasimhan.[3] In 2006, the series was revived for an additional 15 episodes, which were directed by Kavitha Lankesh.[2]

Malgudi Days
DVD Cover of Malgudi Days. Yellow background with a sketch of the Malgudi town square. The text at the top reads, "R.K. Narayan's Malgudi Days"; "Nobel Literature Prize nominee"; "Excellent cinema, and a moving human document - Indian Express". The text at the bottom reads, "English Episodes 1 to 13".
Based onMalgudi Days
by R. K. Narayan
Directed byShankar Nag (seasons 1–3)
Kavitha Lankesh (season 4)
Theme music composerL. Vaidyanathan
ComposerL. Vaidyanathan
Country of originIndia
Original languagesHindi
English
No. of seasons4
No. of episodes54
Release
Original networkDoordarshan
Original release24 September 1986 (1986-09-24) –
2006 (2006-MM)

Plot

The series is adapted from the collections of short stories written by R. K. Narayan in his books Malgudi Days, A Horse and Two Goats, An Astrologer's Day and Other Short Stories, as well as the novels Swami and Friends, and The Vendor of Sweets.

Episodes

Season - 1 (1986 - 13 Episodes)

  • A Hero / Hero
  • A Horse and 2 Goats / Muni
  • The Missing Mail / Dhakia
  • The Hoard / Maha Kanjus
  • Cat Within / Paap ka Gada
  • Leela’s Friend / Sidda
  • Old Man of the Temple / Mandir ka Budda
  • The Watchman / Chowkidar
  • A Willing Slave / Aaya
  • Roman Image / Rome ka Murthi
  • Sweets for Angels / Kaali
  • The Seventh House / Saathvan Ghar
  • Nitya

Season - 2 (1987 - 13 Episodes)

  • Engine Trouble / Engine ki Kahani
  • Iswaran
  • The Gateman’s Gift / Govind Singh ki Bhent
  • The Edge / Dhara
  • Forty-Five a Month / 45 Rupiya
  • Swamy and Friends / Swami – 1
  • Swamy and Friends / Swami – 2
  • Swamy and Friends / Swami – 3
  • Swamy and Friends / Swami – 4
  • Swamy and Friends / Swami – 5
  • Swamy and Friends / Swami – 6
  • Swamy and Friends / Swami – 7
  • Swamy and Friends / Swami – 8

Season - 3 (1988 - 13 Episodes)

  • Performing Child / Abhinetri
  • The Career / Ramji ki Leela
  • Trail of the Green Blazer / Pocket Maar
  • Naga – 1
  • Naga – 2
  • Vendor of Sweets / Mithaiwala – 1
  • Vendor of Sweets / Mithaiwala – 2
  • Vendor of Sweets / Mithaiwala – 3
  • Vendor of Sweets / Mithaiwala – 4
  • Vendor of Sweets / Mithaiwala – 5
  • Vendor of Sweets / Mithaiwala – 6
  • Vendor of Sweets / Mithaiwala – 7
  • Vendor of Sweets / Mithaiwala – 8

Season - 4 (2006 - 15 Episodes)

  • Annamalai – 1
  • Annamalai – 2
  • The Gold Belt / Sone ka Kamarband
  • Dodu
  • Doctor's Word
  • Four Rupees
  • Neighbour's Help
  • Minister Without Portfolio & Korean Grass
  • Salt & Saw Dust – 1
  • Salt & Saw Dust – 2
  • Lawley Road – 1
  • Lawley Road – 2
  • The Antidote
  • The Snake Song
  • An Astrologer's Day

Cast

Production

The series Malgudi Days, comprising thirty nine episodes, was first telecast on Doordarshan in 1986. Most of the series was shot in Agumbe village in Shimoga district, Karnataka.[4][5] Art director John Devaraj transformed Agumbe into Malgudi by creating "carts, statues, avenues, shops, bus stand, schools, shops". Donkeys were transported from Shimoga to Agumbe and elephants from Bangalore, Austin and Hindustan cars were borrowed from friends while a road-roller had to be transported from Bangalore. Shankar Nag erected a land "replete with dancers, wrestlers, fire eaters, bangle sellers" for the episode "Talkative Man". Shankar Nag and Narasimhan initially considered Mysore but since the town has become urbanized, they considered Nanjangud however they rejected it "because of its proximity to Mysore" then they finally zeroed in on Agumbe.[6] Some episodes were filmed in Bengaluru and some others in Devarayanadurga located in Tumakuru district in Karnataka.[7] One episode, "Nitya", was shot entirely in Devarayanadurga.[8] Railway station scenes were shot at Arasalu village railway station.[6][9] Shankar preferred to shoot the series in "celluloid film rather than shoot digitally".[10]

New series

In 2004, the project was revived with filmmaker Kavitha Lankesh replacing Shankar Nag as director.[2] The new series was telecast from 26 April 2006 on Doordarshan.[11] Most of the stories in the series are one episode long and were derived from the books A Horse and Two Goats, Malgudi Days, Swami and Friends and The Vendor of Sweets.

Legacy

Indian Railways decided to rename Arasalu Railway station of Shivamogga District, Karnataka, India to Malgudi Railway station as homage to the location of Malgudi Days serial.[12]

References
  1. Jain, Madhu. "R.K. Narayan's Malgudi does exist; recreated for television". India Today. Archived from the original on 21 February 2020. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
  2. "The return of Malgudi Days". Rediff. 21 July 2006. Archived from the original on 15 April 2008. Retrieved 28 August 2009.
  3. "Classics from Karnataka". The Hindu. 9 February 2004. Archived from the original on 26 March 2010. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  4. Riti, M.D. (16 May 2001). "'You acted exactly as I imagined Swami to be'". The Rediff Special. Archived from the original on 4 October 2009. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  5. "The Malgudi that is Agumbe". The Hindu. 20 February 2011. Archived from the original on 23 February 2011.
  6. "When Agumbe turned Malgudi". The Hindu. 8 November 2018. Archived from the original on 19 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  7. "Memories of Malgudi". The Times of India. 16 October 2016. Archived from the original on 17 October 2016. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  8. "Episode 22, Nitya". Youtube. 12 October 2016. Archived from the original on 21 December 2019. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  9. "The train will now stop at Malgudi!". The Hindu. 5 September 2019. Archived from the original on 19 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  10. "The man who brought Malgudi to screen is no more". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 19 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  11. "Malgudi Days on DD1". The Hindu. 12 May 2006. Archived from the original on 2 October 2016. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  12. M, Shrinivasa (3 March 2019). "Shivamogga's Arasalu set to be rechristened Malgudi Station". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 4 March 2019. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
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