Mr. Sampath – The Printer of Malgudi

Malgudi

Malgudi is a fictitious town in India created by R.K. Narayan in his novels and short stories. It forms the setting for most of Narayan's works. Starting with his first novel, Swami and Friends, all but one of his fifteen novels and most of his short stories take place here...

is a 1949

1949 in literature

The year 1949 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*Arthur C. Clarke becomes Assistant Editor of Science Abstracts.*Bertrand Russell receives the Order of Merit....

 novel

Novel

A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....

 by R. K. Narayan

R. K. Narayan

R. K. Narayan , shortened from Rasipuram Krishnaswami Iyer Narayanaswami Tamil: ) , Madras Presidency, British India. His father was a school headmaster, and Narayan did some of his studies at his father's school...

. It was adapted into the films "Mr Sampath" (Hindi) and Miss Malini

Miss Malini

Miss Malini is a social satire film from South India based on the Mr. Sampath story by R.K. Narayan. It included aspects of life in Madras during the World War II period when there was a shortage of commodities and high prices, and includes depictions of social mores, a love story, and the moral...

(Tamil) in 1947. The films were the only collaborative film script of his novels that R. K. Narayan involved himself with and were produced under the famous Gemini Studios banner.

Plot

Mr.Sampath, The Printer of Malgudi keeping with R.Ks novels has a very simple storyline. And as ever, R.K elevates the novel with his captivating characterization and scintillating story telling, not to forget his deft diction. There are a few business relations that demand two persons to work very closely that it may easily turn into an intimate bonding of hearts. A doctor and nurse, director and actor, opening batsmen in a cricket team, and so is that between an editor and a printer. To bring out the journal of Malgudi “The Banner”, Mr.Shrinivas, The Editor and Mr. Sampath, the Printer have to work together. The two entirely contrasting good hearted characters forge a great partnership that makes “The Banner” the cynosure of all eyes in Malgudi. However a situation arises that they have to temporarily discontinue the journal. Not two persons to lay idle, both of them join hands with a film making company where they have to trace varying paths, with their special bond still very deep. A love affair with the actress of the movie makes life difficult for the daring and over ambitious Sampath, while the ethnic and ethical Shrinivas has his problems of over responsibility too. Some sour incidents in the studio force Shrinivas to quit the studio and revive his banner with another printer, a thing that doesn't seem to bother Sampath caught entirely in the charm of the heroine. But Sampath comes back after the loss of the lady, loss of his family, loss of his wealth, loss of fame and loss of peace. The story ends in a gripping manner when he confides with his good old friend Shrinivas. And as you expect from R.K novel, you are only let out with a very heavy heart.