Short Story: An Astrologer’s Day by R.K. Narayan
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Pre-Viewing Tasks:
Setting of “An Astrologer’s Day”:
Location:
The story takes place in a busy marketplace in an Indian town (likely based on a typical South Indian urban setting, inspired by Narayan's fictional town of Malgudi). The astrologer sets up shop beneath a tree, along a narrow, crowded street, surrounded by other vendors and small businesses.
Physical Environment:
The street is poorly lit, especially after dusk. Street lamps and flickering oil lamps provide the only illumination. The surroundings are bustling, noisy, and chaotic with: Shops selling groundnuts, hardware, cloth, etc. Vendors calling out to customers. People constantly moving past.
Time of Day:
The story unfolds during the evening, just after twilight, when the astrologer begins his work (he depends on the cover of darkness to create an aura of mystery).
Atmosphere:
The setting is mysterious, tense, and somewhat ironic. The contrast between the seemingly mystical appearance of the astrologer and the mundane, everyday street life adds depth to the story. The darkness of the evening plays a symbolic role it conceals truth, both literally and figuratively.
Symbolic Elements:
The tree symbolizes a traditional, rooted presence amid the modern chaos.
The dim light represents deception and hidden truths.
The marketplace mirrors the unpredictability and chance encounters of life.
Plot:
The story is about an astrologer who sits in a busy Indian marketplace every evening, pretending to tell people's fortunes. He dresses and acts like a real astrologer, but he doesn’t have any special knowledge. He makes clever guesses based on people's appearance and behavior. One evening, a stranger approaches him and challenges him to prove his skill. The man offers money if the astrologer can accurately describe his past. The astrologer studies the man carefully and is suddenly shocked he realizes this is a person from his own past, someone he thought he had killed years ago in a fight before running away from his village. Hiding his fear, the astrologer pretends to “read” the man’s past. He says the man was attacked and left for dead, but the attacker has since died. The stranger, believing the astrologer, feels satisfied and leaves. Afterward, the astrologer goes home and tells his wife the truth: he had once stabbed a man and thought he had killed him. Now that he knows the man is still alive and no longer seeking revenge, he finally feels at peace.
Character:
1. The Astrologer
- Real identity unknown
- He poses as a learned astrologer, but has no real knowledge of astrology.
- He relies on observation, quick thinking, and psychology to impress people.
- He ran away from his village years ago after stabbing a man during a fight, thinking he had killed him.
- He now lives with the fear of being caught, until a chance meeting with that same man brings unexpected relief.
2. The Astrologer’s Wife
- A simple, caring woman.
- She doesn’t know her husband’s past until he confesses it at the end.
- She is happy to hear that her husband is now safe from danger.
3. Guru Nayak
- A tough, skeptical man who visits the astrologer for a reading.
- He is unknowingly the man the astrologer once attacked and believed to be dead.
- He’s been searching for his attacker for years to take revenge.
- Believes the astrologer’s words and gives up his search, thinking the attacker is dead.
- Again it is minor character.
- She demands sweets.
- At the end his wife mention her.
Structure:
Exposition (Beginning)
The story begins by describing a fake astrologer who works in a crowded Indian marketplace every evening. He dresses like a real astrologer and pretends to read fortunes using guesses and clever tricks. The setting, mood, and his routine are introduced.
Rising Action
One night, a stranger named Guru Nayak approaches the astrologer and challenges him to prove his skills. He offers money if the astrologer can tell him the truth about his past. The astrologer suddenly realizes that this man is someone he thought he had killed years ago.
Climax
Hiding his fear, the astrologer pretends to read Guru Nayak’s fate. He accurately describes the past event (because he was involved) and says the attacker is dead. Guru Nayak believes him and feels satisfied.
Falling Action
Guru Nayak leaves, convinced, and the astrologer is visibly relieved. He packs up and returns home earlier than usual.
Resolution (Ending)
At home, the astrologer tells his wife the truth about his past. He reveals that he once stabbed a man and fled, thinking he had committed murder. Now, knowing the man is alive and no longer seeking revenge, he feels truly safe and free.
Style:
The style of "An Astrologer’s Day" by R.K. Narayan is simple, clear, and realistic, using everyday language that is easy to understand. The author paints a vivid picture of an Indian marketplace and its people through detailed yet concise descriptions. The story is told in third-person narration and includes elements of irony and wit, especially in the twist ending where the astrologer’s fake predictions turn out to be true due to his own hidden past. The tone is calm and observational, with a clever surprise that gives depth to the plot. Overall, the writing is compact, focused, and engaging.
Themes:
Revengeful Nature
Guru Nayak's main goal is to find and take revenge on the person who tried to kill him. His desire for vengeance drives the main conflict in the story.
Shrewdness
The astrologer survives by using his sharp mind and clever observation. He may not know real astrology, but he uses people’s expressions, behavior, and vague statements to impress them.
Selfishness
Both the astrologer and Guru Nayak show selfish behavior: The astrologer lies to protect himself and avoid danger. Guru Nayak is focused only on revenge, not on moving on or forgiveness.
The Beginning:
The story begins with the astrologer setting up his booth under a tree in a crowded, dimly lit market. He wears traditional clothes (turban, sacred ash, etc.) to look convincing. We see how he tricks customers using vague but clever statements. This beginning sets the tone: a busy, chaotic, and mysterious atmosphere, where appearance matters more than truth.
Important Scenes:
1. The Encounter with Guru Nayak
Guru Nayak approaches the astrologer with a suspicious and challenging tone. He asks for information about his past and offers a bet: if the astrologer tells the truth, he’ll pay. Tension builds as the astrologer recognizes him as the man he once tried to kill. Guru Nayak doesn’t recognize him, which the astrologer uses to his advantage. He lies confidently, claiming the attacker is dead turning a moment of danger into escape.
2. The Conversation with the Wife
After returning home, the astrologer tells his wife about what happened. He confesses that he once stabbed a man and believed he had killed him. He is now relieved to learn the man (Guru Nayak) is alive and no longer seeking revenge. The wife reacts with shock and concern, but he says, “At least now I can sleep in peace.” This scene reveals the truth behind the astrologer’s calm face.
3. The Market Scene
The street is crowded and noisy, full of lamps, vendors, and customers. The camera shows people coming and going, getting their fortunes told, and interacting with different sellers. It sets a vibrant, realistic atmosphere where the astrologer blends in and can hide his true identity. The scene also helps highlight India’s cultural richness and daily hustle.
The Climax Scene:
When the astrologer realizes the man in front of him is Guru Nayak, his old victim, everything changes. He becomes nervous but stays calm outwardly. This moment is filled with suspense he must act fast to protect his secret. His response is brilliantly calculated: he convinces Guru Nayak that the attacker is dead. The tension drops only when Guru Nayak accepts the lie and leaves.
The End:
The story ends quietly, with the astrologer and his wife at home. He unburdens himself emotionally by telling her the truth. He realizes he no longer has to live in fear of being discovered. The ending is peaceful but ironic a liar finds relief through another lie. It leaves the audience reflecting on morality, fate, and the masks people wear.
1.How faithful is the movie to the original short story?
The short film adaptation of "An Astrologer’s Day" is largely faithful to R.K. Narayan’s original short story. It closely follows the main plot, where a fake astrologer unknowingly encounters the man he once tried to kill and cleverly escapes danger. The film preserves the key scenes such as the encounter with Guru Nayak, the tense fortune-telling moment, and the astrologer’s confession to his wife. The characters remain true to the original, with the astrologer shown as shrewd and anxious, and Guru Nayak as suspicious and revengeful. The setting an evening street filled with vendors and lamps accurately reflects the atmosphere described in the story. While some dialogue is expanded and inner thoughts are visualized through expressions and tone, these are minor changes made to suit the visual medium. Overall, the film captures the essence, themes, and twist of the original story, making it a faithful and effective adaptation.
2. After watching the movie, have your perception about the short story, characters or situations changed?
Yes, after watching the movie, my perception of the short story and its characters deepened, especially through the visual and emotional elements. In the text, the astrologer comes across as clever and deceptive, but in the film, his nervous expressions and hesitant body language made him seem more human and vulnerable. Seeing him face Guru Nayak added more tension and empathy he's not just a trickster, but someone haunted by guilt and fear. Guru Nayak, who felt like a distant figure in the story, appeared more intense and emotionally driven on screen, making his thirst for revenge more believable. The wife’s reaction, though brief, also added warmth and realism that I hadn’t felt as strongly in the written version. Overall, the movie helped me connect with the characters on an emotional level and understand the tension and irony of the situation more clearly.
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 did feel aesthetic delight while watching the movie, especially during the climactic scene when the astrologer realizes that the man sitting before him is Guru Nayak the one he thought he had killed. The tension, background music, and the close-up shots of the astrologer’s nervous expressions created a powerful emotional atmosphere. The way he maintains his composure and cleverly turns the situation in his favor, despite his inner panic, was both suspenseful and satisfying. That moment captured the beauty of storytelling where fear, irony, and relief come together in a subtle yet dramatic way. It was not just about the twist, but how it was presented visually and emotionally that made it truly engaging and artistically pleasing.
4. Does screening of movie help you in better understanding of the short story?
Yes, the screening of the movie definitely helped in better understanding the short story. Watching the characters come to life through expressions, tone, and body language added emotional depth that the text alone could not fully convey. For example, the astrologer's fear and tension during his encounter with Guru Nayak felt more intense and real in the film. The market setting, lighting, and sounds also helped visualize the atmosphere described in the story, making the world of the astrologer more vivid and believable. Moreover, seeing the astrologer’s interaction with his wife at the end emphasized his guilt and relief more clearly. Overall, the visual storytelling made the plot, emotions, and underlying themes easier to connect with and understand.
5. Was there any particular scene or moment in the story that you think was perfect?
Yes, the climax scene where the astrologer comes face-to-face with Guru Nayak was particularly perfect. This moment is filled with tension, irony, and suspense. The astrologer's realization that the man sitting in front of him is the same person he once thought he had killed creates a sudden shift in the story. What makes the scene perfect is how calmly and cleverly the astrologer handles the situation using his quick thinking and reading of human behavior to manipulate Guru Nayak into believing a lie. The background music, close-up shots, and silence between lines enhance the emotional intensity. This scene beautifully captures the story’s central themes: deception, fate, and survival, making it the most powerful and well-executed moment in both the story and the film.
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 were the director remaking the movie based on R.K. Narayan’s “An Astrologer’s Day,” I would keep the core plot intact but make a few thoughtful changes to deepen the emotional impact and connect more with the audience.
First, I would add a flashback scene showing the astrologer's violent past his fight with Guru Nayak and the moment he believed he had killed him. This would make the twist more powerful and help the audience understand his guilt and fear on a deeper level. Second, I would expand the wife's role slightly. A short emotional conversation between the astrologer and his wife perhaps showing her reaction to his confession and their shared relief could add more warmth and realism to the ending. Third, I would enhance the atmosphere of the market scene by including more symbolic elements, like a fading light or a sudden breeze during the astrologer’s moment of realization, to visually represent his inner turmoil.
Lastly, I would make the astrologer’s transformation more visible showing how he reflects on his actions at the end, hinting that this experience may have changed him, even slightly. These changes would keep the original spirit of the story while adding emotional and cinematic depth.
References:
Narayan, R K. “AN ASTROLOGER’S DAY.” Google Drive, Google, drive.google.com/file/d/1nvwANvM_NT_6uSrizMz9cul-onLRTX1_/view. Accessed 5 July 2025.
YouTube, Pocket Films, youtu.be/TkfrjYFQozA?si=JNR_0-Qm96MoEqs1. Accessed 5 July 2025.
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