Carnatic musician L. Narayan's younger brother and acclaimed. The series Malgudi Days, comprising thirty nine episodes, was first telecast on Doordarshan in Most of the series was shot in Agumbe village in Shimoga district, Karnataka. In , the project was revived with filmmaker Kavitha Lankesh replacing Shankar Nag as director.
But once their family deity granted their wish they forgot all about it. Share your videos with friends, family, and the world. Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
The series is adapted from the collections of short stories written by R. Attila The Axe Engine Trouble All Avoidable Talk Fruition at Forty Grime and Punishment His forehead was resplendent with sacred ash and vermilion, and his eyes sparkled with a sharp, abnormal gleam which was really an outcome of a continual searching look for customers, but which his simple clients took to be a prophetic light and felt comforted.
To crown the effect he wound a saffron-colored turban around his head. This color scheme never failed. People were attracted to him as bees are attracted to cosmos or dahlia stalks. He sat under the boughs of a spreading tamarind tree which flanked a path running through the town hall park.
It was a remarkable place in many ways: a surging crowd was always moving up and down this narrow road morning till night. A variety of trades and occupations was represented all along its way: medicine sellers, sellers of stolen hardware and junk, magicians, and, above all, an auctioneer of cheap cloth, who created enough din all day to attract the whole town. A considerable portion of this crowd dallied before the astrologer too. The astrologer transacted his business by the light of a flare which crackled and smoked up above the groundnut heap nearby.
Half the enchantment of the place was due to the fact that it did not have the benefit of municipal lighting. The place was lit up by shop lights. It was a bewildering crisscross of light rays and moving shadows. This suited the astrologer very well, for the simple reason that he had not in the least intended to be an astrologer when he began life; and he knew no more of what was going to happen to others than he knew what was going to happen to himself next minute.
He was as much a stranger to the stars as were his innocent customers. Yet he said things which pleased and astonished everyone: that was more a matter of study, practice, and shrewd guesswork.
He had left his village without any previous thought or plan. If he had continued there he would have carried on the work of his forefathers—namely, tilling the land, living, marrying, and ripening in his cornfield and ancestral home.
But that was not to be. To a villager it is a great deal, as if an ocean flowed between. Long practice had sharpened his perception. Within five minutes he understood what was wrong. He charged three paise8 per question, never opened his mouth till the other had spoken for at least ten minutes, which provided him enough stuff for a dozen answers and advices. How can you be otherwise with Saturn where he is? You have an impetuous nature and a rough exterior. The nuts vendor blew out his flare and rose to go home.
This was a signal for the astrologer to bundle up too, since it left him in darkness except for a little shaft of green light which strayed in from somewhere and touched the ground before him.
He picked up his cowrie shells and paraphernalia and was putting them back into his bag when the green shaft of light was blotted out; he looked up and saw a man standing before him.
It will do you good to sit down for a while and chat with me. If I prove you are bluffing, you must return that anna to me with interest. This pact was accepted after a little further argument. The astrologer sent up a prayer to heaven as the other lit a cheroot. The astrologer caught a glimpse of his face by the match light.
There was a pause as cars hooted on the road, jutka drivers swore at their horses, and the babble of the crowd agitated the semidarkness of the park. The astrologer felt very uncomfortable. I am not used to such challenges. It is late for me today You dragged me in while I was passing. I will speak to you tomorrow. Go on. Shall I succeed in my present search or not? Answer this and go.
Otherwise I will not let you go till you disgorge all your coins. I will speak. But will you give me a rupee if what I say is convincing?
Otherwise I will not open my mouth, and you may do what you like. Am I right? You were left for dead. You will never see any more of him. Guru Nayak, listen carefully to what I have to say. Take the next train and be gone. I see once again great danger to your life if you go from home. Never travel southward again, and you will live to be a hundred. I hope at least he died as he deserved. The place was deserted by the time the astrologer picked up his articles and put them into his bag.
The green shaft was also gone, leaving the place in darkness and silence. The stranger had gone off into the night, after giving the astrologer a handful of coins. It was nearly midnight when the astrologer reached home. His wife was waiting for him at the door and demanded an explanation. One man gave all that. She was overjoyed. The child has been asking for sweets for so many days now.
I will prepare some nice stuff for her. She looked up at him. What is wrong? I thought I had the blood of a man on my hands all these years. That was the reason why I ran away from home, settled here, and married you. He is alive. We drank, gambled, and quarreled badly one day—why think of it now? He allowed himself to get mixed up with the fortunes of the persons to whom he was carrying letters.
At No. Thanappa had seen him as a youngster, and had watched him day by day greying on the pial, sitting there and hoping for a big prize to come his way through solving crossword puzzles. How many children has he now? It doesn't matter. When I bring you your appointment order you must feed me with coconut payasam" And at each of these places he stopped for nearly half an hour.
Especially if anyone received money orders, he just settled down quite nicely, with his bags and bundles spread about him, and would not rise till he gathered an idea of how and where every rupee was going. If it was a hot day he sometimes asked for a tumbler of buttermilk and sat down to enjoy it. Everybody liked him on his beat. He was a part and parcel of their existence, their hopes, aspirations, and activities. Of all his contacts, the one with which he was most intimately bound up was No.
Rumanujam was a senior clerk in the Revenue Division Office, and Thanappa had carried letters to that address for over a generation now. His earliest association with Ramanujam was years and years ago. Ramanujam's wife was away in the village. A card arrived for Ramanujam.
Thanappa, as was his custom, glanced through it at the sorting table itself ; and, the moment they were ready to start out, went straight to Vinayak Mudali Street, though in the ordinary course over addresses preceded it. He went straight to Ramanujam's house, knocked on the door and shouted : " Postman, sir, postman.
Happy father! After all these years of prayers! Don't complain that it is a daughter. Daughters are God's gift, you know. Kamakshi lovely name! Ah, so shy! Here is your grandfather's card asking for your photo. Why should he want it, unless it be. Ramanujam looked worried after reading it. The postman asked : " I hope it's good news? Ramanujam said : " My father-in-law thinks I am not sufficiently active in finding a husband for my daughter.
He has tried one or two places and failed. He thinks I am very indifferent. But money is not everything. Horoscopes do not agree. They are demanding too much. Evidently they, do not approve of her appearance.
She looks like a queen. Unless one is totally blind. The season would be closing, with only three more auspicious dates, the last being May 2Oth. The girl would be seventeen in a few days. The reminders from her grandfather were becoming fiercer. Ramanujam had exhausted all the possibilities and had drawn a blank everywhere. He looked helpless and miserable.
Makunda of Temple Street was after him. Makunda and you are of the same sub- caste, I believe. Over a hundred letters have passed between them already. But I know they are definitely breaking off. It is over some money question. They have written their last message on a postcard and it has infuriated these people all the more. As if post- cards were an instrument of insult! I have known most important communications being written even on picture postcards ; when Rajappa went to America two years ago he used to write to his sons every week on picture postcards.
Let us see. No time to waste now. Open it and tell me what they have written," said Thanappa. He trembled with suspense. So they approve of the photo! Who wouldn't? I might as well apply for leave till Kamakshi's marriage is over.
God knows how many hurdles we have to cross now. Liking a photo does not prove anything. The family was divided over the question.
Ramanujam, his mother, and his wife none of them had defined views on the question, but yet they opposed each other vehemently. If you stand on all these absurd antiquated formalities, we shall never get any- where near a marriage. It is our duty to take the girl over even to Delhi if necessary. Time was marching. The postman had got into the habit of dropping in at the end of his day's work, and joining in the council.
Listen to me," he said. What you cannot achieve by a year's correspondence you can do in an hour's meeting. I am sure it is from your husband. What is the news? He said : " I have some registered letters for those last houses. I will finish my round, and come back.
I will offer a coconut to our Vinayaka tonight. We had an idea of doing it during next Thai month. It will be so difficult to hurry through the arrangements now.
But they say that if the marriage is done it must be done on the twentieth of May. If it is postponed the boy can't many for three years. He is being sent away for some training. You can't complain of lack of funds now. Go ahead. I'm so happy you have his approval. More than their money, we need their blessings, sir. I hope he has sent his heartiest blessings. Ramanujam, with so short a time before him, and none to share the task of arrangements, became distraught.
As far as it could go, Thanappa placed himself at his service during all his off hours. He cut short his eloquence, advices, and exchanges in other houses. He never waited for anyone to come up and receive the letters. He just tossed them through a window or an open door with a stentorian " Letter, sir. In such a hurry!
I will come and squat in your house after that " and he was off. Ramanujam was in great tension. He trembled with anxiety as the day approached nearer. Nothing should prove a hindrance. You have given them everything they wanted in cash, presents, and style.
They are good people. It is the very last date for the year. If for some reason some obstruction comes up, it is all finished for ever. The boy goes away for three years. I don't think either of us would be prepared to bind ourselves to wait for three years.
A quiet had descended on the gathering. The young smart bridegroom from Delhi was seated in a chair under the pandal. Fragrance of sandal, and flowers, and holy smoke, hung about the air. People were sitting around the bridegroom talking. Thanappa appeared at the gate loaded with letters. Some young men ran up to him demanding : " Postman! I know to whom to deliver.
The bridegroom looked up at him with an amused smile and muttered : " Thanks. I have known that child, Kamakshi, ever since she was a day old, and I knew she would always get a distinguished husband," added the postman, and brought his palms together in a salute, and moved into the house to deliver other letters and to refresh himself in the kitchen with tiffin and coffee.
Ten days later he knocked on the door and, with a grin, handed Kamakshi her first letter : " Ah, scented envelope!
I knew it was coming when the mail van was three stations away. I have seen hundreds like this. Take it from me. Before he has written the tenth letter he will command you to pack up and join him, and you will grow a couple of wings and fly away that very day, and forget for ever Thanappa and this street, isn't it so?
He said, turning away : " I don't think there is any use waiting for you to finish the letter and tell me its contents. My uncle, my father's brother, is very ill in Salem, and they want me to start immediately. Thanappa looked equally miserable.
Ramanujam rallied, gathered himself up, and turned to go in. Thanappa said : " One moment, sir. I have a confession to make. See the date on the card. I was unhappy to see it. But what has happened has happened,' I said to myself, and kept it away, fearing that it might interfere with the wedding.
They will dismiss me. It is a serious offence. Ramanujam watched him dully for a while and shouted : " Postman! I am only sorry you have done this. Raman often burst out, " Why couldn't you have come a day earlier?
Raman ; for them there was something ominous in the very association. As a result when the big man came on the scene it was always a quick decision one way or another. There was no scope or time for any kind of wavering or whitewashing. Long years of practice of this kind had bred in the doctor a certain curt truthfulness ; for that very reason his opinion was valued ; he was not a mere doctor expressing an opinion but a judge pronouncing a verdict.
The patient's life hung on his words. This never unduly worried Dr. He never believed that agreeable words ever saved lives. He did not think it was any of his business to provide unnecessary dope when as a matter of course Nature would tell them the truth in a few hours.
However, when he glimpsed the faintest sign of hope, he rolled up his sleeve and stepped into the arena : it might be hours or days, but he never withdrew till he wrested the prize from Tama's hands. Today, standing over a bed, the doctor felt that he himself needed someone to tell him soothing lies. He mopped his brow with his kerchief and sat down in the chair beside the bed. On the bed lay his dearest friend in the world : Gopal.
They had known each other for forty years now, starting with their Kinder- garten days. They could not, of course, meet as much as they wanted, each being wrapped in his own family and profession. Occasionally, on a Sunday, Gopal would walk into the consulting room, and wait patiently in a corner till the doctor was free. And then they would dine together, see a picture, and talk of each other's life and activities. It was a classic friendship standing over, untouched by changing times, circumstances, and activities.
In his busy round of work, Dr. Raman had not noticed that Gopal had not called in for over three months now. He just remembered it when he saw GopaPs son sitting on a bench in the consulting hall, one crowded morning. Raman could not talk to him for over an hour. When he got up and was about to pass on to the operation room, he called up the young man and asked, " What brings you here, sir?
He rushed off straight from the clinic to his friend's house, in Lawley Extension. Gopal lay in bed as if in sleep. The doctor stood over him and asked Gopal's wife, " How long has he been in bed?
He comes down once in three days and gives him medicine. Why, why, couldn't you have sent me word earlier? There was hardly any time to be lost. He took off his coat and opened his bag. He took out an injection tube, the needle sizzled over the stove. The sick man's wife whimpered in a corner and essayed to ask questions. He looked at the children who were watching the sterilizer, and said, " Send them all away somewhere, except the eldest. The patient still remained motionless.
The doctor's face gleamed with perspiration, and his eyelids drooped with fatigue. The sick man's wife stood in a corner and watched silently. She asked timidly, " Doctor, shall I make some coffee for you? He got up and said, " I will be back in a few minutes. Don't disturb him on any account. In a quarter of an hour he was back, followed by an assistant and a nurse.
The doctor told the lady of the house, " I have to perform an operation. Will you leave your son here to help us, and go over to the next house and stay there till I call you? The nurse attended to her and led her out. At about eight in the evening the patient opened his eyes and stirred slightly in bed. The assistant was overjoyed. He exclaimed enthusiastically, " Sir, he will pull through. It is only a false flash-up, very common in these cases.
At about eleven the patient opened his eyes and smiled at his friend. He showed a slight improvement, he was able to take in a little food. A great feeling of relief and joy went through the household. They swarmed around the doctor and poured out their gratitude. He sat in his seat beside the bed, gazing sternly at the patient's face, hardly showing any signs of hearing what they were saying to him.
Malgudi days pdf free download: Malgudi days is a collection of short stories that is written by R. Narayan in a simple style and characteristic irony portray the variety and colour of Indian life. Malgudi Days is a collection of 32 fictional stories set about a beautiful town called Malgudi, a small imaginary town in South India in Ramanathapuram. Each story in the book is mainly based on the real problems faced by the nation during that era.
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