Malgudi Days is an Indian television series based on the works of R.K. Narayan. The series was directed by the late Kannada actor and director, Shankar Nag while Carnatic musician L. Vaidyanathan composed the score; Narayan's brother, R. K. Laxman was the sketch artist. The series was made in 1986 by film producer T. S. Narasimhan with Anant Nag as the lead actor.
The sketches for the serial were done by Narayan's brother and acclaimed cartoonist, R.K. Laxman. Thirty-nine episodes of "Malgudi Days" were telecast on Doordarshan . Subsequently, it was re-telecast on Doordarshan and later on Sony Entertainment Television, and Maa Television in Telugu. This television series was shot entirely near Agumbe in Shimoga District, Karnataka. 'Malgudi Days' remains one of the most loved, nostalgic television series of all times.
In 2004, the project was revived with film-maker Kavitha Lankesh replacing the late Shankar Nag as director. The new series was telecast from April 26, 2006 on Doordarshan.
Contents
1 Plot
2 Episodes
3 Sypnosis
4 Characters
5 Actors
6 References
7 External links
Plot
The series involves various stories of R K Narayan and most of them are one episode long. The stories are from the books "A Horse and Two Goats", "Malgudi Days", "Swami and Friends" and "Vendor Of Sweets".
Swami and Friends revolves around ten-year old Swaminathan, or Swami as he is known by other characters. Swami portrays the growing pangs of a boy who despises school, as he makes excuses and roams around Malgudi with his friends. Swami's father works in a government office and his mother is a housewife. At home, Swami shares his adventures with his aged granny, who lovingly addresses him as "Chamy." Swami also has two close friends: Mani and the son of the Police Chief Superintendent, Rajam. Swami's character was portrayed by Manjunath, a regular actor in many of Shankar Nag's productions.
Vendor Of Sweets narrated the story of a sweet vendor, Jagan, his business and confrontation with his son who had returned from abroad. The title role was played by Kannada actor and director Anant Nag, and most of the actors for this serial were chosen from Kannada film Industry.
Directed by: Anand Lal Das
Episodes
1. A Hero
2. A Horse & Two Goats
3. The Missing Mail
4. The Hoard
5. Cat Within
6. Leela's Friend
7. Days of Malgudi
8. The Watchman
9. A willing slave
10. Roman Image
11. Sweets for Angeles
12. Seventh House
13. Nitya
14. Engine Trouble
15. Iswaran
16. Gateman's Gift
17. The Edge
18. Forty-Five A Month
19. Swamy And Friends 1
20. Swamy And Friends 2
21. Swamy And Friends 3
22. Swamy And Friends 4
23. Swamy And Friends 5
24. Swamy And Friends 6
25. Swamy And Friends 7
26. Swamy And Friends 8
27. Performing Child
28. Career
29. Trail Of The Green Blazer
30. Naga 1
31. Naga 2
32. Mithaiwalla 1
33. Mithaiwalla 2
34. Mithaiwalla 3
35. Mithaiwalla 4
36. Mithaiwalla 5
37. Mithaiwalla 6
38. Mithaiwalla 7
39. Mithaiwalla 8
Sypnosis
Episode 1 - Swami is a small child in Malgudi living with his family and grandmother. Once while reading a newspaper, his father reads an article about bravery shown by an 8-year old boy and feels that Swami should do something like that. Swami has the habit of sleeping with his grandmother after listening a story told by her. This irritates Swami's father. Swami's father then challenges, or rather forces, him to sleep in his office. When Swami tells his friends of the ordeal, his friends warn him about a ghost living near the office. When Swami sleeps in his father's office he has nightmares about the ghost and wakes up with a start. At the same time, Swami spots an intruder breaking into the office. Mistaking him for the ghost, Swami grabs the intruder's leg and yells for help. The rest of the villagers rush inside the office and catch the intruder. The police tell Swami that the intruder was a thief wanted by the police and congratulate him. The incident is published in the Malgudi times but little Swami is so scared after the incident that he starts sleeping with his grandmother again.
Episode 2 - Muni is a very poor man living in Malgudi with his wife. Every day, he takes his two goats to graze near an old statue of a horse outside. One day Muni's wife requests him to buy some food, but Muni hasn't any money and he goes to the grocer only to get kicked out because he had not settled previous debts. The same night, his wife tells him about a body found near the well and is afraid to go out in fear of the police. The next day, when Muni takes his goats out to graze, he spots a motor car. Out of the motor car comes a tourist from New York who starts talking with Muni but Muni could not understand a word of what he says. He thinks that he is a policeman who came for the body and starts telling his suspicions about other people. The conversation carries on with both persons not understanding what the other is saying. The tourist then examines the statue of the horse and makes an offer to buy it. Muni misunderstands it as an offer for his goats and is reluctant but when the American offers 100 Rupees, Muni relents. When he gets home he surprises his wife with the money and tells her that he sold off the goats. When they hear the bleating of their goats outside they find the goats in their yard with the statue gone.
Characters
Swaminathan (Swami) - Master Manjunath
Swami's father - Girish Karnad
Swami's mother - Vaishali kasaravaLLi
Swami's grand mother - B Jayashree
Muniya (Muni) - Kanti Madiya
Muniya's wife - B Jayashree
Shopkeeper - Somu
American (New York tourist) - Teddy White
Actors
Ananth Nag (Episodes 10 and 32-39)
Dada (Episodes 30 and 31)
Girish Karnad
Vishnuvardhan (Episode 18)
Shankar Nag (Episodes 30 and 31)
Ramesh Bhat
MALGUDI DAYS - Vol-1 (3 DVD Collectors Edition)
MALGUDI DAYS - R.K. NARAYAN - ALL SEASONS COMPLETE SET