This 39-Year-Old Show Still Rules IMDb Charts with 9.4 Rating
This 39-Year-Old Show Still Rules IMDb Charts with 9.4 Rating
Decades before OTT giants like Mirzapur, Panchayat and The Family Man, Doordarshan’s 1986 classic Malgudi Days captured the soul of India and even today, remains the highest-rated Indian TV show on IMDb.
In an era where web series like Mirzapur, Panchayat, The Family Man, Sacred Games and Gullak dominate streaming platforms, one might assume that older television content has long been forgotten. Yet, the 39-year-old show Malgudi Days continues to defy that belief. With a staggering IMDb rating of 9.4, it remains the highest-rated Indian television show of all time, even surpassing the most popular OTT series of the present day.
First aired on Doordarshan in 1986, Malgudi Days was based on the short stories written by acclaimed author R. K. Narayan. The show offered a nostalgic and heartwarming glimpse into the fictional South Indian town of Malgudi, a place that felt both imaginary and deeply real to its audience. Its stories of everyday life, human emotion, and moral simplicity resonated with millions across the country.
The series was directed by Shankar Nag in its first three seasons, with Kavita Lankesh taking over the fourth. Despite being made with limited resources — and even some borrowed funds — the show’s honest storytelling and soulful music struck such a chord with viewers that it became a cultural phenomenon. The makers later revealed that the overwhelming love from audiences helped them repay every rupee borrowed to create the series.
Malgudi Days featured an ensemble of celebrated actors including Girish Karnad, Anant Nag, and the young Master Manjunath, whose portrayal of the mischievous and endearing ‘Swami’ remains one of the most iconic performances in Indian television history.
The show’s influence was so deep that the Arsalu railway station in Karnataka was renamed ‘Malgudi Station’, a symbolic tribute to the timeless village that had become part of India’s collective imagination.
In 2020, filmmaker Kishore Mudbidri released a film titled Malgudi Days on Amazon Prime Video. However, viewers felt that the movie, despite its sincere attempt, could not capture the emotional simplicity and magic of the original series.
So, what makes Malgudi Days endure even after nearly four decades? Its charm lies in its simplicity, emotional depth, and universal relatability. Unlike today’s fast-paced thrillers and complex narratives, this show found meaning in the small joys and moral dilemmas of ordinary life offering viewers a slice of India that was unhurried, thoughtful, and deeply human.
Even today, clips and full episodes of Malgudi Days continue to trend on YouTube and various streaming platforms, introducing new generations to the stories that once defined Indian television. The fact that a show made with such humility still tops IMDb charts in 2025 is a testament to its lasting legacy.
Nearly forty years on, Malgudi Days is not just a television show, it is a cultural treasure, a timeless reflection of Indian life, and a reminder that authentic storytelling never fades with time.
