How a Brazilian telenovela recreated the soul of India on a studio lot
In short: Caminho das Indias, a landmark 2009 Brazilian telenovela, bridged continents by weaving a complex tale of forbidden love across caste lines. To capture the essence of Rajasthan, producers built an expansive 11,500-square-metre set in Rio de Janeiro, meticulously blending Indian architecture with the vibrant, lived-in atmosphere of a bustling foreign world.
Produced by TV Globo and written by Gloria Perez, Caminho das Indias aired 203 episodes between January and September 2009. The narrative explores the friction between Eastern and Western values, set against the backdrop of India's transition into a modern democracy. The plot is split between Rio de Janeiro and the Indian state of Rajasthan, with additional scenes filmed in Dubai. It holds the distinction of being the first Brazilian telenovela to win an International Emmy Award.
The central conflict revolves around Maya, a woman from the Vaishya trader caste, and her forbidden romance with Bahuan, an orphan from the Dalit untouchable caste. Their relationship is complicated by rigid social hierarchies and the pressure of arranged marriages. Simultaneously, the story follows Brazilian characters navigating cultural clashes while attempting to integrate into Indian life. Themes of tradition versus modernity, sanity, and the complex web of human relationships drive the drama forward.
To achieve visual authenticity, directors Marcos Schechtman and Fred Mayrink began filming in Jaipur and Agra on October 1, 2008. Back in Brazil, the production team led by Mario Monteiro constructed three massive city sets at Projac. These included 42 shops, a temple of Shiva, and a reproduction of the Ganges riverbank. The art department used colorful Hindi inscriptions and authentic Indian items to distinguish the Indian sets from the cleaner aesthetic of the Brazilian scenes, creating a immersive, cross-cultural experience for viewers.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Caminho das Índias
- Also: Wikidata — Caminho das Índias · CC0
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