Malgudi, Bengaluru, and the city that never forgot Shankar Nag
Bengaluru is a city of many hearts, alive in sudden rain showers, voices that mingle across languages, and a rhythm that lingers in unhurried metro rides, the cool evening breeze, and the lush green trees that have watched generations grow. This blog gathers these moments to celebrate the Bengaluru that has always felt like home.
Malgudi, Bengaluru, and the city that never forgot Shankar Nag
Under a stone katte, a boastful thatha is telling sweet stories. The afternoon sun gleams, a gentle wind blows, and the air has a whiff of ripe mangoes. It’s a tiny town – has a railway station, an old doctor, a busy postmaster, and a stubborn vendor. Here, nothing huge ever happens, yet beauty lies in its everyday magic. This is Malgudi – simple, sunlit, and serene.
A sense of belonging, home, and humour is everything R.K. Naryan aspired to create within the small microcosm that was Malgudi. An amalgamation of two areas of Bengaluru that still stir that feeling: Malleshwaram and Basavanagudi. With their lush green canopies, bustling street markets, quaint stores, and sweet standalone food spots that seem like they still exist in an era carefully carved out by Narayan himself.
Before its appearance on Doordarshan, R.K. Naryan wasn’t sure if the visuals would foster the same feeling as the book. When he watched two sample episodes, he was left stunned by the sheer detailing and closeness to the book. Malgudi Days found its perfect maker in Shankar Nag, who shared a deep love for the stories.
Shankar Nag’s elder brother, Anant Nag, was the one to suggest the village of Agumbe as the perfect spot to shoot Malgudi Days. Four years of Nag’s life were dedicated to the making of the series with precision. The villagers became family, and food for the crew was cooked in their homes. They welcomed the crew wholeheartedly. Friends volunteered to join in and act in the series. You might be surprised to find Girish Karnad, Vishnuvardhan, Vaishali Kasaravalli, and, of course, Shankar’s constant friend-philosopher and guide, Anant Nag.
But Shankar Nag’s fame preceded the movies. When Auto Raja came out in theatres, it created a frenzy among the auto drivers. There was finally representation for the common man and the working class, who were much more than their work. For the first time, the life of the working class was brought to light.
His art spoke beautifully, but so did his heart — his curiosity for Bengaluru’s future led him to learn about urban transit long before the city even dreamt of it. Shankar Nag had conceptualised having a Metro Rail in Bangalore in the 1980s. He spent nearly ₹9 lakh from his own pocket to study metro systems in Malaysia and Tokyo, proposing a similar idea to the government. It was dismissed then, but 35 years later, over 40 lakh people ride the metro every day, proving his vision was decades ahead of its time.
He may have lived briefly, but he dreamt deeply. Bengaluru will always remember the man who imagined more for all of us.
Got a sweet memory of Bengaluru? Share it with us.
Big or small, recent or old, we’re open to every memory you want to share.
As we wrap up the year, all of us at UnboxingBLR wish you a very Happy New Year 2026.
As Bengaluru’s lights glow into another year, may your days shine as bright as its skyline and feel as soothing as its rains. Here’s to a beautiful New Year, wrapped in the charm of the city we love.
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