Malgudi Days (1987)
Malgudi Days is an Indian television series based on the works of R.K. Narayan. The series was directed by Kannada actor and director, Shankar Nag and Carnatic musician L. Vaidyanathan composed the score. R. K Narayan's brother and acclaimed cartoonist 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. Thirty-nine episodes of Malgudi Days were telecast on Doordarshan over three seasons, starting in 1986. The first season was simultaneously made in English and in Hindi. Subsequent seasons were made in Hindi, and have been dubbed into other languages. 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. In 2004, the project was revived with film-maker Kavitha Lankesh replacing Shankar Nag as director. The new series of fifteen episodes was telecast from April 26, 2006 on Doordarshan.
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Episode 1 - The Watchman
Release Date: 1987-07-07In episode 17 of Malgudi Days, a night watchman tries to comfort a girl who is about to commit suicide. At dawn, he leaves her to do what she will. Many years later, he discovers what really happened the morning he left the girl.
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Episode 2 - Leela's Friend
Release Date: 1987-07-14In episode 18 of Malgudi Days, eight-year-old Leela is happy when her parents hire a new servant, Sidda. All is well until Mrs Sivasankar discovers that Leela’s chain is missing. Sidda too vanishes. Leela is left alone while her parents are busy with their own work, and the Police. Where is the chain?
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Episode 3 - The Gateman's Gift
Release Date: 1987-07-21In episode 19 of Malgudi Days, Govind Singh, a honest gateman carries around a registered postal envelope asking everyone what’s inside, hesitant to open it and find out. After his retirement, he tries to express his gratitude by presenting the chief with one of the clay models he makes so well. What happens next highlights the plight of the simple and uneducated folk.
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Episode 4 - The Gold Belt
Release Date: 1987-07-28In episode 20 of Malgudi Days, Sambasivan finds a perfect match for his daughter and spends his life savings on her wedding. The groom’s relatives demand a gold belt as part of the dowry. Sastri, Sambasivan's close friend buys a gold belt for her. Ho will Sambasivan repay his friend?
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Episode 5 - The Edge
Release Date: 1987-08-04In episode 21 of Malgudi Days, Ranga sharpens knives for a living. He protects his daughter from his quarrelsome wife and dreams of making her a doctor. One day, he gets a lift in a car and wishes his wife could see the respect he got. But the message on the car does not mean a lot till much later.
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Episode 6 - Nitya
Release Date: 1987-08-11In episode 22 of Malgudi Days, Nitya, a rebellious boy's parents remember a vow they made to place hair on the Lord’s alter if he survived a sickness, when he was a child. 20 years later, they convince Nitya and together go to fulfil the vow, but face a hindrance.
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Episode 7 - The Performing Child
Release Date: 1987-08-18In episode 23 of Malgudi Days, a little girl's performance is watched by film makers who request her to do a screen test. While the parents are excited, the girl is not so keen about the test. What happens when she goes missing?
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Episode 8 - Snake Song
Release Date: 1987-08-25In episode 24 of Malgudi Days, a talkative man dreams of becoming a flautist. He faces the curse of a mendicant he ignores when he is too busy practising. His guru tells him that unless the mendicant forgives him, he can never play the flute again. Watch the full episode online, only on Hotstar.
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Episode 9 - Antidote
Release Date: 1987-09-01In episode 25 of Malgudi Days, the story dwells lightly on people’s faith in superstitions and how by just twisting events and circumstances, everyone can be happy.
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Episode 10 - Dodu
Release Date: 1987-09-08In episode 26 of Malgudi Days, Dodu decides to make money to buy little things he fancies. He buys stamps and sells them but incurs a loss. Later, he comes up with a plan to sell something else.
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Episode 11 - Minister Without Portfolio
Release Date: 1987-09-15In episode 27 of Malgudi Days, a minister who happens to hold no portfolio, plans some unworthy schemes. His schemes to import Korean grass and investigate a child's death are thwarted by his superiors. Later, luck favours him!
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Episode 12 - Ishwaran
Release Date: 1987-09-22In episode 28 of Malgudi Days, Ishwaran is a lonely, tormented soul who tries to mask his feelings. He is troubled by the fear of failure and prays for success. In desperation, he decides to commit suicide!
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Episode 13 - The Missing Mail
Release Date: 1987-09-29In episode 29 of Malgudi Days, Thanappa is more than just a postman to Ramanujam's family. He learns about Ramanujam's elder brother's death, a day before Ramanujam's daughter's wedding.