An Astrologer’s Day by R K Narayan

Welcome to my blog,

This blog is part of our study. This Thinking activity is based on  An Astrologer’s Day A Short Story by R K Narayan and was assigned by Megha Ma'am Department of English MKBU. 

R.K. Narayan

R.K. Narayan, whose full name was Rasipuram Krishnaswami Iyer Narayanaswami, was one of India's most celebrated and beloved English-language writers. He was born on October 10, 1906, in Madras, India, and he passed away on May 13, 2001, in Chennai.

Narayan's writing career began with the publication of his first novel, "Swami and Friends," in 1935. This marked the beginning of a long and successful literary journey. He went on to write numerous novels, short stories, and essays, capturing the essence of life in small Indian towns and creating a rich tapestry of characters and experiences.

His fictional town of Malgudi, though imaginary, became so vividly described in his works that it seemed like a real place to his readers. Narayan's writing style was simple, humorous, and filled with humanistic values. He often used satire to depict the social and cultural complexities of Indian society.

Some of his most famous works include "The Bachelor of Arts," "The English Teacher," "The Guide," "Malgudi Days," and "The Vendor of Sweets." His novel "The Guide" won him the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award in 1960.

An Astrologer's Day

"An Astrologer's Day" is a short story written by Indian author R.K. Narayan. It was first published in 1947 as part of his collection of short stories titled "Malgudi Days." The story is set in the fictional town of Malgudi, a place that features prominently in many of Narayan's works.

The plot revolves around an astrologer who sets up his modest business on a busy street in Malgudi. He poses as a knowledgeable astrologer and fortune-teller, using various props and tricks to impress his clients. One evening, as he is about to close his shop and head home, a stranger approaches him for a consultation.

This stranger turns out to be a man named Guru Nayak, who seems to be anxious and restless. The astrologer begins his usual routine, making vague predictions to satisfy the customer. However, during the course of their conversation, Guru Nayak reveals that he is looking for someone.

The astrologer starts to feel uneasy when he learns that Guru Nayak is searching for a man who once tried to kill him by pushing him into a well. The astrologer realizes that he is the one Guru Nayak is seeking, and he becomes terrified.

In a desperate attempt to save himself, the astrologer tries to convince Guru Nayak that he is not the person he is looking for. He tells him that he is just an ordinary astrologer and that there must be some misunderstanding. Despite the astrologer's efforts, Guru Nayak remains convinced that the astrologer is indeed the man he wants.

Just as the situation becomes tense and the astrologer fears for his life, a passerby intervenes and reveals the truth. It turns out that Guru Nayak is mistaken, and the person he is looking for is not the astrologer after all. The real culprit is someone else, and the astrologer is relieved to be free from the threat. The story ends with the astrologer feeling grateful for the stranger's intervention and realizing the unpredictability of fate. It also explores themes of deception, mistaken identities, and the complexities of human nature.

Here is the Video of An Astrologer's Day - Hindi Short Film on Youtube:

How faithful is the movie to the original short story?

There may be some differences between the original short story and the movie version. These differences can vary in terms of plot elements, character portrayals, pacing, and overall interpretation of the story. But this video is very similar to the original story. And this video is also very important and easy to understand the original story.

After watching the movie, have your perception about the short story, characters, or situations changed?

Yes, after watching this short video my perspective on a story and, its characters compared by me to the original written work. The ending scene of the story and the video both have some differences. In the story, the main character's last dialogue was not in detail but in the video, he tells his wife very perfectly. And in the story and video characters' looks and talking styles are also different.

Do you feel ‘aesthetic delight’ while watching the movie? If yes, exactly when did it happen? If no, can you explain with reasons?

Yes, I feel ‘aesthetic delight’ while watching the Scene when the main character saw the Gurunayak in the lighting of the matchstick and he recognized him. 

Does screening of movie help you better understanding of the short story? 

Yes, If you've read the short story and are interested in watching a movie adaptation, it can be an enjoyable and informative experience to compare how the filmmakers translated the written work into a visual form. and movies are easily understood by us.

Was there any particular scene or moment in the story that you think was perfect?

Yes, The main character saw the Gurunayak in the lighting of the matchstick and he recognized him. and also when Gurunayak Saw his bare chest shows the scar of the main character by his knife.

If you are the director, what changes would you like to make in the remaking of the movie based on the short story “An Astrologer’s Day” by R.K. Narayan?

This story and movie adaptation both are very good. But if I'm a director of a movie I change Character Depth, Expand the Setting, some Flashbacks, Original Ending. 

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