'An Astrologer's Day' By R. K. Narayan

 

'An Astrologer's Day' by R. K. Narayan

This blog is written in response to the thinking activity on the comparative study of R. K. Narayan's short story 'An Astrologer's Day' and the movies based on it, assigned by Megha Ma'am, Department of English, MKBU. In this blog I am going to explore all the questions assigned by ma'am.

Before diving into the comparative study, let's first have an introduction of R. K. Narayan and the short story itself.

R. K. Narayan:

R.K. Narayan, in full Rasipuram Krishnaswami Narayan was a well-known Indian writer famous for his set of work and writing in the fictional South Indian town of Malgudi. He was one of the leading and famous authors of early Indian literature written in English along with two others, Mulk Raj Anand and Raja Rao. He was born on October 10, 1906 in Madras, Chennai, India and died on  May 13, 2001 in Madras. He is one of the finest Indian authors of his generation writing in English.

He has been awarded by Padma Vibushan, Sahitya academy Felloship award and Benson Medal for his writings.

• His major works includes:
• Swami and Friends(1935)
• BAchelor of Arts(1936)
• The Guide(1958)
• The English Teacher(1945)
• Mr. Sampath (1949)
• The Financial Expert (1952)
• The Man Eater of Malgudi (1961)
• The Vendor of Sweets (1967)
• The Painter of Signs (1977)
• A Tiger for Malgudi (1983)
• Talkative Man (1986)

 

He has also written five collections of short stories, including Malgudi Days, Lawley Road (1956), A Horse and Two Goats and Other Stories (1970), Under the Banyan Tree and Other Stories (1985), and The Grandmother's Tale (1993). The book ‘Malgudi Days’ includes 32 stories, all set in the fictional town of Malgudi, located in South India. Each of the stories portrays a facet of life in Malgudi. He has also written Multiple collections of essays, commentaries on the Indian epics, and a memoir, My Days.  

Here, I have embedded the Introductory Presentation on R. K. Narayan and the Recording

R. K. Narayan from Trushali Dodiya

'An Astrologer's Day'

‘An Astrologer's Day’ is a thriller and suspense short story which deals with a single day in the life of an ordinary astrologer who shrewdly tries to dupe people and escape from his guilt. The story not only exposes the fake astrologer but also highlights the gullible and superstitious people who approach him.

When the Astrologer is about to wind up his business, he meets a rogue character named Guru Nayak. Towards the end, as readers, we receive a shock that Guru Nayak and the astrologer belong to the same native towns and were also good friends. They had a quarrel one day and both were into bad company and had a fight. The astrologer tried to kill Guru Nayak by attacking him with a knife and threw him into a nearby well. That time a passerby saved Guru Nayak. The astrologer left his native village forever and became an astrologer. One day suddenly he confronts his past unexpectedly but smartly tackles the situation.

Unexpected twist with the arrival of Guru Nayak came and the mystery that is hidden in the darkness is unveiled by his questions. Guru Nayak challenges the astrologer’s knowledge and he refuses to go away without getting a satisfactory answer to his questions.

The Astrologer now decides to face the situation. He displays accurate knowledge about Guru Nayak’s past and is successful in convincing him. In answering the question of Guru Nayak, the astrologer has not only deceived him but also saved himself from his own fate. The author superbly evokes the atmosphere of suspense and irony in the story. The story reveals how appearances are often deceptive. It shows the witty astrologer’s encounter and escape from his former enemy.

Here is the movies:

Now let's explore the questions:

1. How faithful is the movie to the original short story?

The movie remains largely faithful to the original short story, "The Astrologer's Day." The characters, situations, and locations are depicted in a manner that closely aligns with the story. The visual medium effectively conveys the overall message of the story, albeit with some changes made for the sake of enhancing the storytelling through visual effects. Despite these changes, when comparing the movie to the short story, it can be considered very faithful.

2. After watching the movie, has your perception of the short story, characters, or situations changed?

Certainly. Watching the movie has indeed changed my perception of the short story, its characters, and the situations presented. The visual medium provides a subtle yet impactful way of introducing the characters, allowing for a different understanding of the core of the story. In the short story, the character of the Astrologer's wife is not revealed until the end, whereas in the movie, her presence is established from the beginning to the end. This explicit insight into the original story enhances our comprehension. Some dialogues have been changed or added in the movie due to its Hindi language, but they remain faithful to the original story. These alterations aid in understanding the overall tone and delve deeper into the hidden or suspenseful revelations.

3. Do you feel "aesthetic delight" while watching the movie? If yes, when did it happen? If no, can you explain why?

Yes, I experienced aesthetic delight while watching the movie. The short story provides accurate descriptions to understand the characters, situations, and events. However, the visual medium of the movie adds an extra layer of aesthetic delight. For example, the initial conversation between the Astrologer and his wife, which is not present in the short story, offers a more engaging insight. The interaction between the astrologer and Guru Nayak, where Guru Nayak's curiosity and the astrologer's initial nervousness about revealing his identity are prominent, creates a captivating moment. Thus, there is definitely aesthetic delight in the movie.

4. Does the screening of the movie help you better understand the short story?

Yes, the screening of the movie has significantly aided my understanding of the short story. The movie effectively captures the essence of the short story and conveys it excellently. The true nature of the characters and their traits are portrayed well, contributing to a better understanding of the story.

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

The scene depicting the Astrologer's workplace and his clever interactions with clients, as well as his conversation with Guru Nayak, was perfectly portrayed in the movie, just as it was in the short story.

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?

If I am the Director, I will make changes in the attitude of the character Astrologer. As in the movie, he is not as wisely portrayed as in the short story. Rather he is portrayed like Guru Nayak. 

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