Mysuru: Four decades after Malgudi Days first captivated television audiences across India, the actors who played its much-loved young characters — Swami, Rajam and Mani — have reunited at the iconic locations where the legendary television series was filmed.
Master Manjunath, who played Swami, Rohith Srinath, who portrayed Rajam, and Raghuram Sitaram, who played Mani and now lives in Canada, visited Agumbe and Arasalu from September 1 to 3, revisiting places that became closely associated with the television adaptation of R K Narayan’s stories.
Returning to the world of Malgudi
Malgudi Days, based on the writings of Mysuru-based novelist R K Narayan, premiered on Doordarshan’s National Network on September 24, 1986. Directed by actor-director Shankar Nag, the series went on to become one of the most remembered television productions in India.
The series ran for 38 episodes and won a lasting place in the memories of viewers with its simple storytelling and everyday characters. Swami’s childhood adventures, along with his friendship with Rajam and Mani, became particularly popular among viewers.
The reunion came as the series approaches its 40th anniversary this month. Manjunath said he had been planning to revisit Agumbe with his co-actors for the past two years and felt the anniversary offered an appropriate occasion for the visit.
Revisiting iconic shooting locations
During their three-day visit, the actors walked through Agumbe and Arasalu, revisiting locations associated with the production.
They returned to rooms where they had stayed during the shooting and interacted with villagers who still remember the television crew’s presence in the region.
The trio also visited SVS School, whose premises had represented the fictional Albert Mission School in the series.
For Manjunath, the return to Agumbe was an emotional experience. He observed that the town had changed very little over the decades, retaining much of the atmosphere that made it suitable for bringing Narayan’s fictional world to television.
A possible Malgudi tourism circuit
The enduring appeal of the locations has also prompted the idea of developing a dedicated ‘Malgudi Days’ tourism circuit.
Manjunath suggested that a circuit connecting Agumbe and Arasalu could provide sustainable employment opportunities for local communities while preserving the rustic character of the locations.
The idea could potentially bring together fans of the television series, literary enthusiasts and tourists interested in the locations associated with Narayan’s stories and Shankar Nag’s adaptation.
The actors’ visit also demonstrated how strongly the series continues to resonate with people in the regions where it was filmed.
Emotional reunion at Arasalu
The reunion culminated at the historic Arasalu railway station, where the Shivamogga Kannada Sangha felicitated the three actors.
For Rohith Srinath, returning to the old railway tracks brought back memories of the original shooting days.
The visit offered the actors an opportunity not only to reconnect with their childhood roles but also to meet people and revisit places associated with one of the most enduring productions in Indian television history.
Documentary on Malgudi Days in the works
The reunion could now lead to another project connected with the much-loved series.
The trio is reportedly working on a documentary on Malgudi Days that will bring together members of the original cast and crew.
The proposed documentary is expected to explore the making of the series, its behind-the-scenes stories and the locations that shaped its distinctive visual identity.
It will also feature locations connected to R K Narayan, including his ancestral home in Mysuru, linking the author’s literary legacy with the television adaptation that introduced his fictional world to generations of viewers.
Four decades after Malgudi Days first entered Indian homes, the reunion of Swami, Rajam and Mani has brought back memories of a simpler television era — and renewed interest in the real places that helped turn R K Narayan’s Malgudi into an unforgettable part of Indian popular culture.