Malgudi days
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[edit] Malgudi Days - TV Series
Although television had arrived in India in the 1950s, it wasn't a mass media due to its high cost and logistics. The Government of India undertook several steps to popularise the medium. The 1970s and 1980s saw a boom in television programming as the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting invited independent producers and directors to shoot television serials on a regular basis. Hum Log, Buniyaad, Nukkad, Karamchand Jasoos were some of the memorable serials of this era. Malgudi Days was one such television serial which left an indelible mark on the Indian television scenario.
Based on the collection of short stories penned by acclaimed author, R.K.Narayan, the serial narrated focused on the trial and tribulations of a small Indian town of Malgudi. According to R.K. Narayan, Malgudi is a town "habited by timeless characters who could be living anywhere in the world" and is located on the banks of river Sarayu and surrounded by the Mempi Hills.
The serial was directed by acclaimed Kannada actor, director Late Shankar Nag and was shot entirely near Agumbe in Shimoga District, Karnataka. The music was rendered by T.S. Vaidyanathan and was produced by T.S. Narasimhan of the Padam Rag Fims. It included many of Narayan's short stories and novels like "Swami and Friends" and "Vendor of Sweets".
"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, Anant Nag. While "Vendor of Sweets" was a serious subject dealing with father-son relationship, "Swami and Friends" revolves around a mischievous, ten-year old boy Swaminathan or Swami as he was fondly called by his friends and parents. Swami portrays the growing pangs of a boy who despises school, makes excuses and likes to roam 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 has two best friends, the hot headed, club swinging Mani and the cocky, brash, rich kid, Rajam.
Swami's character was brilliantly enacted by Manjunath who was a regular feature in many of Shankar Nag directed movies. R.K. Narayan has reportedly mentioned that Manjunath had portrayed the character of Swami as he had envisioned it. The sketches for the serial were done by Narayan's brother and acclaimed cartoonist, R.K. Laxman. 39 episodes of "Malgudi Days" were telecast on Doordarshan and it became an instant hit. Subsequently, it was re-telecast on Doordarshan and later on Sony Entertainment Television. Now "Malgudi Days" is telecast on children's channel Pogo TV. Currently, director Kavitha Lankesh is scripting and directing new 26 episodes of "Malgudi Days" in Hindi based on R.K. Narayan's short stories/novel. It is a treat for people of all ages, enabling the young to enfuse their lives, and the old to revisit their nostalgic memories.
[edit] Return of Malgudi Days
The National Film Award-winning film-maker Kavitha Lankesh was recently hired by Doordarshan to re-shoot the serial in an effort to revive it[1].
