An Astrologer’s Day by R K Narayan

 "An Astrologer’s Day": From Story to Screen


This blog is written as the part of worksheet for thinking activity assigned by Megha Trivedi ma'am. The purpose of this blog is to reflect on the experience of watching the film adaptation of R. K. Narayan’s short story, exploring how the visual medium enhances understanding of the plot, characters, and themes. Through this exercise, I aim to critically analyze the film.


Pre-Viewing Task 


Observe the setting, plot, character, structure, style, and theme of the original short story "An Astrologer’s Day" by R.K. Narayan.


Introduction: Unveiling Layers Beneath a Market Scene

R. K. Narayan’s "An Astrologer’s Day" is a compact yet profound short story that masterfully blends everyday life with deeper philosophical questions about truth, guilt, and redemption. The narrative, almost deceptively simple at first glance, reveals its intricate artistry through a rich interplay of setting, plot, character portrayal, structural precision, distinctive style, and thematic depth.



Setting: A Theatre of Shadows and Illusion

The story unfolds in the bustling marketplace of Malgudi, a fictional South Indian town that Narayan often imagines. The astrologer sets up his trade beneath a large tamarind tree adjacent to Town Hall Park. The atmosphere is neither brightly lit nor totally dark; instead, it is suffused with a semi-lit ambiance created by gas lamps, cycle lanterns, and flares from various stalls. This "bewildering criss‑cross of light rays and moving shadows" not only paints a vivid visual backdrop but symbolically represents the blurred boundaries between truth and deception, visibility and concealment. The chaotic commerce vendors selling stolen goods, cheap cloth, peanuts, and magical acts accentuates the restless, ephemeral nature of the marketplace and the personas therein.


Plot: A Routine Disrupted by a Twist of Fate

The story follows an unnamed man who has constructed a livelihood by masquerading as an astrologer. His knowledge is less about stars and more about shrewd observation and psychological insight. His predictable day is upended when a mysterious stranger, Guru Nayak, confronts him with suspicion and challenge. A tense interaction ensues, culminating in the astrologer’s startling recognition of Guru Nayak as the man he once believed he had killed in a drunken brawl. To save himself, the astrologer fabricates a story of Guru Nayak’s "death," which the latter accepts, leading to mutual relief. The story closes on an intimate note with the astrologer confiding his concealed past and burden of guilt to his wife, signaling emotional liberation.


Characters: Complex Personae in a Brief Encounter

  • The Astrologer: A survivor who outwardly adopts theatrical props such as cowrie shells, charts, sacred ash to enforce his guise. Beneath this facade is a man weighed down by remorse and fear, whose deception ultimately becomes a pathway to catharsis.

  • Guru Nayak: Hardened and scarred, he represents justice and closure. Initially driven by vengeance, he undergoes a transformation upon encountering the astrologer, embodying the human capacity for forgiveness.

  • The Astrologer’s Wife and Daughter: Though secondary characters, they serve as symbols of domestic normalcy and emotional support, providing contrast to the astrologer’s tormented inner life.


Structure: A Balanced Narrative with a Dramatic Twist

Narayan’s story follows a linear trajectory that is both straightforward and tightly controlled. The exposition establishes the astrologer’s routine and setting, the rising action introduces conflict through the stranger’s challenge, the climax delivers shock through dramatic recognition, and the resolution provides emotional release. A brief flashback subtly enriches the plot by illuminating the backstory that fuels the tension without interrupting narrative flow, making the story both suspenseful and impactful.


Style: Economy and Symbolism in Narrative Craft

The language in "An Astrologer’s Day" is marked by precision and economy. Narayan’s prose is unadorned yet evocative, painting vivid scenes with minimal but effective detail. Symbolism permeates the story especially through the recurring motifs of light and shadow which complements the underlying themes. The tone balances gentle irony with cultural authenticity, conveying human foibles without overt judgment.


Themes: The Interplay of Illusion, Guilt, and Redemption

  • Deception versus Reality: The astrologer’s profession is based on illusion, yet it paradoxically reveals deeper truths about human nature and forgiveness.

  • Guilt and Redemption: Burdened by a past crime, the astrologer’s liberation ironically achieved through a lie underscores the complexity of moral reconciliation.

  • Fate and Free Will: Although astrology is invoked, the story suggests that chance and individual decisions ultimately shape human events.

  • The Power of Belief: The willingness of the public, and especially Guru Nayak, to believe the astrologer’s narrative highlights the psychological need for comfort and closure beyond objective truth.


Conclusion: The Alchemy of a Short Tale

"An Astrologer’s Day" exemplifies Narayan’s brilliance in transforming a simple marketplace vignette into a profound meditation on human psychology and morality. The interwoven elements of setting, plot, character, structure, style, and theme coalesce to reveal the story’s enduring power: a reminder that truth and illusion, guilt and redemption, often exist intertwined in human lives.




While-Viewing Tasks




Observe the beginning and important scenes- the encounter with Guru Nayak, the conversation with the wife, the market scene, the end, and the climax scene.


Introduction
R. K. Narayan’s An Astrologer’s Day unfolds as a subtle interplay of chance, deception, and self-redemption. Both the original short story and its Pocket Films adaptation rely on a carefully structured sequence of key scenes to reveal the protagonist’s dual life and his ultimate emotional liberation. The opening, the marketplace, the tense encounter with Guru Nayak, the domestic conversation, the climax, and the ending form the backbone of this narrative, moving it from everyday routine to dramatic revelation.


The Beginning
The story opens with the astrologer’s daily ritual of setting up his modest stall beneath a sprawling tamarind tree in Malgudi’s Town Hall Park. His saffron turban, vermilion-marked forehead, and mystical paraphernalia cowrie shells, charts, and palmyra-leaf scrolls craft an image of spiritual authority. In reality, this “astrologer” is an ordinary man using disguise and quick wit to earn a living. This beginning immediately establishes one of the story’s central ideas: the contrast between appearance and reality. In the film, the camera captures the bustling environment and close-ups of his intense eyes, making viewers believe in his aura even as we later learn it is fabricated.


The Market Scene
The market is depicted as a microcosm of chaos and livelihood, teeming with vendors selling medicines, auctioneers calling out, magicians performing tricks, and the groundnut seller’s flamboyant cries. The confusion of sounds, smells, and flickering lights at dusk creates an atmosphere of secrecy and concealment. Narayan’s description of “bewildering criss-cross of light rays and moving shadows” becomes symbolic of the astrologer’s life constantly weaving truth with lies. The film reinforces this mood through alternating bright and dim lighting, highlighting how this environment allows him to survive unnoticed, hidden in plain sight.


The Encounter with Guru Nayak
As the astrologer prepares to close his day’s work, a stranger approaches Guru Nayak whose scarred face is briefly illuminated by a match as he lights a cheroot. Unbeknownst to Guru Nayak, he is speaking to the very man who once attacked him years ago and left him for dead. The ensuing dialogue is tense and layered: Guru Nayak challenges the astrologer’s credibility, bargains over fees, and demands answers about his attacker’s fate. Recognizing the man and fearing exposure, the astrologer uses his intimate knowledge to fabricate a convincing prophecy: that Guru Nayak’s enemy died long ago and that he must avoid his village and travel north. This lie not only saves his own life but also inadvertently frees Guru Nayak from his quest for revenge.


The Conversation with Wife and The End
Late that night, at home, the astrologer gives his wife the day’s meager earnings, and she cheerfully plans to buy sweets for their child. This simple domesticity contrasts sharply with the turbulent encounter earlier. Over dinner, he confesses that he once stabbed a man in a drunken brawl and fled, believing he had killed him. Now, knowing that his victim lives, he feels an immense burden lifted: “A great load is gone from me today.” The film underscores this with a final image of him sitting half in light, half in shadow visually representing his lingering moral ambiguity yet newfound peace.


Climax and Conclusion
The climax of An Astrologer’s Day lies in the collision of past and present, deception and truth. The astrologer’s greatest lie becomes his moment of personal salvation, demonstrating Narayan’s theme that life’s outcomes often hinge on irony and chance. Through its carefully crafted scenes the public façade of the market, the shocking encounter, and the private confession the story shows how human lives are shaped as much by what we hide as by what we reveal. Both the text and film leave audiences reflecting on the complex guises of truth and the strange ways redemption arrives.



Post-Viewing Task 


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


The movie remains largely faithful to R.K. Narayan’s short story in terms of its plot, characters, and central twist. It retains the essence of the narrative a seemingly ordinary astrologer whose past crime resurfaces unexpectedly in his daily life. The film successfully captures the story’s rural setting, the bustling marketplace, and the astrologer’s outwardly confident yet inwardly anxious persona. However, the adaptation adds cinematic elements such as dramatic background music, longer dialogues, and lingering shots of the astrologer’s face, which heighten tension. While the short story leaves much to the reader’s imagination, the film visualizes emotions explicitly, sometimes reducing the subtle irony of Narayan’s prose. Despite this, the movie is true to the spirit of the original, effectively translating the theme of fate and human deception to the screen.


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

Yes, my perception of the story and its characters deepened after watching the movie. While reading, I viewed the astrologer merely as a clever trickster who escaped punishment through chance. The film, however, gave him a more human dimension showing his nervous expressions, hesitations, and relief when he realizes Guru Nayak will never return for revenge. This made me see him as a man haunted by his past rather than just a cunning fraud. Similarly, Guru Nayak appeared more menacing in the film, emphasizing the astrologer’s fear and guilt. The visual medium brought out emotions like tension, suspense, and relief, which I did not feel as strongly when reading. Thus, the movie made me re-interpret the story not just as an ironic twist but as a psychological drama.


3. 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 experienced aesthetic delight at specific moments in the film. The most striking instance was when the astrologer finally confronts Guru Nayak under the dim marketplace light. The use of shadows, close-up shots, and silence before the astrologer reveals the “truth” about Nayak’s attacker created a moment of intense suspense and satisfaction. This cinematic build-up mirrored the literary twist but amplified its emotional impact, leaving me both surprised and relieved. Additionally, the final scene—where the astrologer returns home and confesses to his wife evoked a subtle sense of closure, blending irony with relief. These artistic choices elevated the experience beyond mere storytelling, making it visually and emotionally rewarding.


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

Absolutely, the screening significantly enhanced my understanding. While the short story is brief and relies on minimal description, the film contextualized details such as the bustling market atmosphere, the astrologer’s costume, and the cultural background of his profession. Seeing the astrologer’s inner conflict visually made me appreciate Narayan’s understated writing style even more. The adaptation also clarified the climactic revelation the identity of the astrologer as Nayak’s attacker which some readers might miss on a first reading. Therefore, the movie served as a valuable interpretive aid, making hidden tensions and emotions more accessible.


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

The confrontation scene between the astrologer and Guru Nayak was, in my opinion, perfect. It encapsulated the central themes of fate, irony, and chance in a single encounter. The scene’s pacing beginning with casual conversation, escalating into intense questioning, and culminating in the astrologer’s fabricated prophecy was executed flawlessly. It not only preserved the short story’s twist but also added dramatic intensity, making the moment unforgettable. This scene serves as the moral and emotional core of the narrative.


6. 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?

If I were the director, I would maintain the original plot but enhance the film’s psychological depth and symbolic elements. First, I would include flashbacks of the astrologer’s crime to show how it shaped his present life, thereby making his fear more palpable. Second, I would add symbolic visuals like the extinguishing of a lamp when Nayak leaves to signify closure and release from guilt. Lastly, I would develop the astrologer’s home life further, highlighting the contrast between his deceptive public persona and his private vulnerability. These additions would preserve the story’s irony while providing a more layered cinematic experience.



References

“An Astrologer’s Day - Hindi Short Film.” YouTube, uploaded by Pocket Films, directed by Sushant Bhat, 17 June 2017, youtu.be/TkfrjYFQozA. Accessed 5 July 2025.

Narayan, R. K. Malgudi Days. Penguin, 2006.


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