Malgudi Days (TV series)

Malgudi Days is an Indian television series that premiered in 1986.^[1] Initially produced in both English (13 episodes) and Hindi (54 episodes), the show is based on R. K. Narayan’s 1943 short story collection of the same name. Directed by Kannada actor and director Shankar Nag, The series was Produced by T.S. Narasimhan,^[2] with music composed by L. Vaidyanathan. Renowned cartoonist R. K. Laxman, Narayan's younger brother, contributed as the sketch artist.^[3] the series was revived in 2006 with 15 new episodes directed by Kavitha Lankesh.^[3]

Malgudi Days
Based on	Malgudi Days by R. K. Narayan
Directed by	Shankar Nag (seasons 1–3) Kavitha Lankesh (season 4)
Theme music composer	L. Vaidyanathan
Composer	L. Vaidyanathan
Country of origin	India
Original languages	Hindi English
No. of seasons	4
No. of episodes	54
Production
Producer	T. S. Narasimhan
Original release
Network	Doordarshan
Release	24 September 1986 (1986-09-24) – 2006 (2006)

Plot

The series is an adaptation of several collections of short stories and novels by R. K. Narayan, depicting life in the fictional South Indian town of Malgudi. It draws from works such as Malgudi Days, A Horse and Two Goats and Other Stories, An Astrologer's Day and Other Short Stories, Swami and Friends, and The Vendor of Sweets, offering a portrayal of rural and small-town India through its everyday characters and scenarios.

Each episode introduces different characters and events, capturing recurring themes of innocence, irony, and social observation. In Swami and Friends, for example, the series explores the childhood experiences of Swami and his friends, highlighting post-colonial societal shifts. The Vendor of Sweets addresses generational conflicts through the relationship between Jagan, an elderly sweet vendor, and his modern-thinking son.

The series covers a spectrum of narratives, from interactions with eccentric astrologers to villagers grappling with moral quandaries, humorous misunderstandings, and personal challenges. Narayan’s portrayal of Malgudi offers both humorous and critical reflections on prevalent social dynamics and presenting a timeless view of community life.

Episodes

Season 1 (1986 - 13 Episodes)

Episode	Hindi Title
A Hero	Hero
A Horse and Two 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	Nitya

Season 2 (1987 - 13 Episodes)

Episode	Hindi Title
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 – Part 1	Swami – 1
Swamy and Friends – Part 2	Swami – 2
Swamy and Friends – Part 3	Swami – 3
Swamy and Friends – Part 4	Swami – 4
Swamy and Friends – Part 5	Swami – 5
Swamy and Friends – Part 6	Swami – 6
Swamy and Friends – Part 7	Swami – 7
Swamy and Friends – Part 8	Swami – 8

Season 3 (1988 - 13 Episodes)

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

Season 4 (2006 - 15 Episodes)

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

Cast

• Master Manjunath as W. S. Swaminathan "Swami"
• Girish Karnad as W. T. Srinivasan
• Vaishali Kasaravalli as Swami's mother
• Suhasini Adarkar as Swami's grandmother
• Kanti Madiya as Muniya "Muni"
• B. Jayashree as Muniya's wife
• Somu as Shopkeeper
• Teddy White as Frank
• Deven Bhojani as Nitya
• Harish Patel as Various characters
• Anant Nag as Various characters
• Vishnuvardhan as Venkat Rao
• Shankar Nag as Venkatesh
• Ramesh Bhat as various characters
• Rohit Srinath as Rajam
• Raghuram Sitaram as Mani
• Chetan as S. Somashekar "Somu"
• Arundathi Nag as Kamala
• Sunil Sadanand as Mali, Jagan's son
• Mandeep Rai as Narsimha, Jagan's cousin
• Ashok Mandanna as Thanappa
• Vasanth Josalkar as Govind Singh
• Kalpana Naganath as various characters
• Dina Pathak as Ayah
• Jagadish Malnad as Sidda
• Mico Chandru as Swamy's father
• Sampath Raj as Ekambaram
• S. K. Padmadevi as Elderly villager
• Siddaraj Kalyankar (The Gold Belt) Main cast
• G. K. Govinda Rao as Swamy's headmaster (Albert Mission School)
• Lohitashwa as Nitya's Father

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] The home was Kalkodu near Agumbe. 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]

Revival

In 2004, the project was revived with filmmaker Kavitha Lankesh replacing Shankar Nag as director.^[3] The new series was telecasted 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]