Malgudi Days (TV series)

Malgudi Days is an Indian television series that started in 1986, 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. The series was made by film producer T.S. Narasimhan. In 2006, the series was revived for an additional 15 episodes, which were directed by Kavitha Lankesh.

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

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. 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. Some episodes were filmed in Bengaluru and some others in Devarayanadurga located in Tumakuru district in Karnataka. One episode, "Nitya", was shot entirely in Devarayanadurga. Railway station scenes were shot at Arasalu village railway station. Shankar preferred to shoot the series in "celluloid film rather than shoot digitally".

New series
In 2004, the project was revived with filmmaker Kavitha Lankesh replacing Shankar Nag as director. The new series was telecasted from 26 April 2006 on Doordarshan. 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.