Thursday 13 July 2023

R.K.Narayan’s “An Astrologer’s Day”.

This task is assigned by Megha Ma'am. In this blog I am going to write answer according to my views and Understanding of the Short Story "An Astrologer's Day" from Malgudi Days by R.K.Narayan. My answers are based on the reading of the original short story and watching a short film based on it.


We watched a short film on An Astrologer’s day Prepared by Pocket Films on You tube.

Cast & Crew: 
Director: Sushant Bhat 
Producer: Sushant Bhat 
Music / Sound: Saumit Deshpande 
Editor: Sushant Bhat
Cinematographer: Saumit Deshpande




Here you can watch short film on Youtube.

About Author:-
R.K. Narayan, Rasipuram Krishnaswami Iyer Narayanaswami is a legendary writer of early Indian English literature. Being a writer of fiction, non-fiction and mythology, R.K. Narayan proposed a great range of pen work for his readers worldwide. His famous autobiographical trilogy of “Swami and friends”, “The Bachelor of Arts” and “The English teacher” are one of his finest pieces, even the famous fictional town of “Malgudi” was introduced in the book “Swami and friends”. His connection to his characters and highlighting of the social context got him a serious comparison with William Faulkner.

Having a successful career of almost sixty years got R.K. a series of awards and honors including the AC Benson medal from the Royal Society of Literature, the Padma Bhushan and the Padma Vibhushan, third and second of India’s highest civilian awards. He got the nomination for Rajya Sabha, India’s upper house of Parliament.

Here is a Group Presentation on R.K.Narayan:


Here is Video Recoding of  this Presentation.


About Story:-

This is a story about an astrologer who made his living by using his wits and shrewdness. One day, he is confronted with a truth that had once made him flee his village home. This confrontation and the subsequent revelation lifts a heavy load off his chest. The central character of this story is an astrologer who carried the persona of an all-knowing man. His attire made him appear like a divine prophetic man. Adorning a saffron-coloured turban on the head, the Astrologer sat under a tamarind tree and began his work at midday.


Now let's explore the questions:
  1. How faithful is the movie to the original short story?
  2. After watching the movie, have your perception about the short story, characters or situations changed?
  3. Do you feel ‘aesthetic delight’ while watching the movie? If yes, exactly when did it happen? If no, can you explain with reasons?
  4. Does screening of movie help you in better understanding of the short story?
  5. Was there any particular scene or moment in the story that you think was perfect?
  6. If you are 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?
How faithful is the movie to the original short story?

The movie is based on this short story, and it is faithful to the original short story. However, at times, it doesn't capture the essence of the short story as well as we would expect from a script that is originally based on it. This is evident from the first scene. The movie faithfully adapts the short story, but there are instances where the script doesn't capture the essence of the original material. This discrepancy is apparent right from the first scene.

"The place was lit up by shop lights. One or two had hissing gaslights, some had naked flares stuck on poles, some were lit up by old cycle lamps, and one or two, like the astrologer's, managed without lights of their own."

The movie fails to include the original lines from the short story, as they do not appear in the film.

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

Yes, my perception towards story is changed like after watching movie my thoughts towards character of Astrologer is little bit changed like before watched movie only reading of short story we can not imagine that much but after that we watched movie and we can better understand how that astrologer look and how he attract people.

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

Watching the movie brings about a sense of aesthetic delight. As I observed, the characters are portrayed in distinct ways, offering a fresh perspective. This alternative portrayal allows us to perceive the characters differently, leading to an enhanced aesthetic experience.

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

While watching the movie, we discover that it remains faithful to the original short story. However, what the camera is capable of expressing, by giving words to the silence, is an element that cannot be experienced through reading alone. The visual medium of film allows for a unique way of storytelling, enabling the camera to convey emotions and meaning beyond what the written word can capture.

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

In my opinion, the scene where Guru Nayak arrives and the situation of the astrologer is depicted is a perfectly executed scene. It captures my attention and allows me to truly immerse myself in the story. The way it is portrayed on screen is exceptional, and I find it to be a standout moment in the movie.

If you are 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?

As a director, there are a few scenes that I would consider changing in the movie. Firstly, the last scene deviates from the original short story and would benefit from some alterations to align it more closely with the source material. Additionally, the depiction of the marketplace in the opening scene differs from how it is described in the original short story, and I would seek to modify it to better reflect the author's intentions.

All of the responses are my personal interpretations. If there are any additional suggestions or modifications you would like me to consider, please feel free to provide them in the comment box.

Thank you for visiting.

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