NAVODAYA STUDIO
for
English & Hispanic
audience
All Images & Text in this webpage are from the RESEARCH, PRODUCTION DESIGN, PRE-VIZ,
Rehearsals & Preps by navodayastudio.
The absolute ownership of the contents
along with the Intellectual Property Rights
is vested with the author
Based on the novel BARROZ by Jijo. Published 2018.
There are significant variations from the novel
in the screenplay.
But the question is ... whether the ghost possibly an illusion in the girl's mind?
Is this a figment of her imagination?
She has to first convince others (and herself) that it is real !!
This film is fun, fantasy, teen adventure and also, probably, about the coming of age of an adolescent.
This is a story of a teenage girl fighting her inner
demons, her raging rebellion against authority and
authoritative figures, all with the help of a ghost!
It is also about a treasure-guarding slave who
lives through centuries as a ghost, waiting in abject
boredom (except when scaring the hell out of intruders in his treasure chamber) for the destined heir.
Voodoo Doll
Character Design
Prakash Moorthy
Barroz The trusted sixty-five-year-old servant of Admiral Cristóvão D'Gama (great grandson of the famous Vasco) who rocks sweet girl Isabella D’Gama to sleep.
That was in the year 1645. Today, guarding a treasure in the year 2020, Grandpa Barroz the ghost is waiting for Isabella to return to Goa from Lisbon.
Though he has a voodoo doll to keep him company, entombed in D’Gama mansion cellar, Barroz is bored. It is only once in a century he gets to chase away raiders in the treasure chambers.
Isabella / Isa Goa. AD 1645. As thunder rumbles and cannons boom, Isabella is the terrified 12 year old sweet girl who runs into the protective arms of Grandpa Barroz.
Come 2020, Isa is a wild cat who kicks and mauls Barroz the ghost when, during a fireworks display, he throws a protective arm around her.
“Hands off, old man ….
Scared of crackers, are you?
…Ha! Go hug your mom”
Both the roles - Isabella and Isa, is played by the same actor.
Though outwardly she would seem hyperactive, Isa’s bouts of fantasy are an attempt to escape from uncomfortable realities.
This is a paradox that lies hidden beneath the film’s facade of a fantasy tale.
On the surface, this story is about how a young girl befriends ‘a treasure guarding ghost’ and along with the prankish grandpa, she has a whale of a time.
Yet below this rollicking surface lies the fact that Isa is more spooky and ghoulish than the real ghost!
Following serious mischief and toxic misbehavior at Darjeeling Residential School, Isa is presently under suspension. And her dad Ron, busy with his casino business plans, is unable to provide remedial parenting.
(baritone solo)
Come Isabella, open the door
Come and take your pot of gold
(soprano solo)
Thus said the spider to the fly
That's how I landed in this pit.
(baritone solo)
We had such fun, we were always on the run ...
in the dead of the night, playing Queen & Slave
Voodoo Doll
Character Animation
Bradley Cadman
VFX Supervisor
Isa's School Scene
Storyboard & Production Rehearsal (pre-covid), now been shelved.
Script Consulting Sessions
from R to L - Jijo, Maya and Revathy
discussing Isa's character
with psychiatrist Dr. C.J. John
Novelist Samhita Arni (right) helps performer Shayala (left) understand Isa's character.
Grooming Session for Shayala by AD Padmini at Sajeev Nambiyath.
Amal as Chota,
Cesar Lorento Raton as Mendoza
at rehearsals during
Production Design
Ron Madhav
38-year-old Malayalee entrepreneur of Indian origin now settled in California. With a bachelor's degree from Birmingham University, he is a successful real estate magnate.
Fair, handsome and meticulous.
But his steely business-like demeanor develops fissures when faced with the emotional issues of his daughter.
He is clueless as to his failure as a parent.
While studying in UK Ron had courted his colleague Theresa - a Portuguese national and married her. Isa is their only offspring. Today, having lost his wife and bearing the burden of single parenthood, a guilt-ridden Ron cannot face the accusing glances of his daughter.
Chota
The 8-year-old boy of African-Indian parentage has a fertile imagination. Evoking the nuances of the 'Portuguese-African-Indian Myth', holding a reed scepter in hand, every night the boy sleeps in a cardboard coffin of his making.
That is how Chota gets insights into the hidden Portuguese treasure which his ancestors, seven generations removed, had protected with their mastery of voodoo.
The stories about the treasure and the ghost that guards it, Chota shares with his newfound friend Isa, thus feeding her fertile imagination.
Susan Mathew
A retired Malayalee diplomat, 65 years old. Susan and her late husband Mathew were the local guardians of Ron Madhav when he was completing his studies in UK.
A widow for the past ten years, now settled in Goa, Susan is a humorous personality who even today continuously talks to her demised husband. Given such a behavioral aberration, no wonder the woman views Isa's bouts of fantasy with a sympathetic eye. Ron Madhav seeks Susan’s assistance in his daughter Isa’s behavior problems. Susan in turn advices Ron how to be a better parent.
Manuelo Mendoza
He was the 45 year old keeper of Viceregal Archives in Portuguese Goa during the year 1646 A.D. A person knowledgeable in the customs and practices of native Africans and Indians, it is he who convinced Admiral Cristóvão D'Gama that the precious heirlooms stored in the D’Gama mansion cellar can be protected with Voodoo Occult - a maleficent ritual that empowers ghosts to protect one's treasured possessions. The motive behind Manuelo's incredulous suggestion was to spirit away D'Gama's personal collection of princely antiques, once the Admiral left for Lisbon.
Both the roles - Manuelo & Alfredo is played by the same Portuguese-Indian performer. For, as you can guess, Alfredo is Manuelo's descendant.
Maria An aged, archaic-looking crone with an unusual face. She is the 17th century occultist Mweusi Maria ... as well the present day voodoo doctor Maria.
Unnikrishnan S.P., Security, Goa. 40 years old. Entrusted with the security for the V.I.P.s during the International Investors’ meet in Goa, a vexed Unnikrishnan has to solve the case of the Finance Minister's fall from the podium chair. Then comes the rumor that there is a ghost in the mansion's cellars!
Alfredo Mendoza
is a curator in the Velha Goa State Museum during the year 2020 A.D. He has rare manuscripts that speak of a lost treasure. Alfredo's challenge is to get around the ghost guarding the treasure - Barroz.
D’Gama & Theresa
Rafael Garcia as D’Gama & Sara Trigo as Theresa D'Gama posing for a 17th Century D’Gama family portrait in Goa.
This is part of Navodaya Production Design stalled due to Covid.
Life size oil-on-canvas painting by RK (Radhakrishnan)
Portuguese Coat of Arms
which follows Iberian Heraldry
D'Gama's Coat of Arms
on his victorious storming of Adil Shah's Fort with 3 Galleons
The world maritime history, as we know it, began in the 1500s with European sea explorations east towards the Orient and west towards the Americas. With Vasco D’Gama discovering a sea-route to India around Africa and Columbus discovering the ‘new world’ across the Atlantic, started the age of exploration.
During the ensuing century, territories and frontiers across the oceans were won not by the naval might of the empires who sponsored the explorations …. but, by the brains and brawn (more of the latter than former) of individual daredevil swashbucklers who led the conquests.
Yes, valiant conquistadors like Cortez and Albuquerque.
Cristóvão D’Gama
And here we have one such who in 1620s re-established the Portuguese power in Goa when it seemed that this Oriental Jewel would be lost to Portugal. Yes, he is Admiral Cristóvão D’Gama - the great grandson of the famous Vasco. In our film D’Gama’s Treasure, he is the iconic antagonist.
Impressing his unmatched lineage upon King John, to take up command 100 years after Vasco Da Gama established the Portuguese settlement, the Admiral had arrived at Goa with his noble wife Lady Theresa and their sweet child Isabella. True enough … when Adil Shah II of Bijapur invaded Goa, by leading 3 galleons upriver, D'Gama stormed and captured an enemy fort. Thus he earned the Coat of Arms which symbolized Portuguese victory. With his wife Lady Theresa, he established a settlement there and built the mansion named after him. But years later, on a sudden assault by the Marathas and the Dutch, he is forced to a humiliating retreat.
Before evacuation towards the sea, he orders all his personal acquisitions and war booties shifted to his mansion’s underground wine cellar. He entrusts elderly servant Barroz - keeper of the keys, to guard them from falling into enemy hands.
A badly injured D’Gama when attended by the african voodoo healer - Muwesi Maria, gets convinced by the old crone to deploy an ancient ritual to protect his valuables … till D’Gama can return to Goa one day.
“Sacrifice a willing slave … turn him into a ghost … make him stand guard to your treasures … just as how Pharoahs’ tombs and Solomon’s diamond mines are kept protected by occult”.
A desperate D’Gama clutches on this ‘hell-sent’ idea and against the protests of a horrified Theresa, sacrifices Barroz before boarding the galleon with his family. This is how Barroz ends up as a treasure-guarding-ghost in wait of his master D’Gama … or his destined heir.
The great seafarer and conquistador is vociferous about the splendors of his invaluable collection.
" Voila! See this? … Adil Shah's dagger box, and also the king’s ensign ring... severed along with the Royal Finger... priceless!
Rani Padmini’s lotus necklace … a ransom sent to Mahmood Ghazni for redeeming her husband...
Mughal Emerald earrings … that which Alam Aurangazeb gifted Donna Julia … I prised it out of the slaughtered nawabi woman’s clenched hand.
This armour ... which bears my coat of arms, .. drenched in blood … my blood … shed to acquire these riches".
Theresa D’Gama
During the Maritime historical period
(15th to 18th century) which saw European explorations, conquests and colonisations,
there were two categories of individuals.
The first were those who went and subjugated lands and its people …. and thereby reaped rich rewards for the risks they took. Today, at the turn of the second decade of the 21st century, we see the statues of such people being brought down … Cristopher Columbus is only a prominent example for this. Accused of crimes ranging from slavery to racism, forced conversion to genocide, resource exploitation to outright plunder …. their glorious discoveries and conquests that were once acclaimed, have become outright abominations in a new era. Our Admiral Cristóvão D’Gama falls into this category.
There is a second category of individuals - the ones who left the relative comfort of their native homes and came to serve in the unknown lands amidst the dust, grime, heat and pestilence. This they did by giving themselves for uplifting the downtrodden. They offered medical care, education and … yes, Love of God.
While screaming for retributions for the first group’s injustices, the sacrifices of the second group of individuals are being forgotten today. A majority of them were women - wives, mothers, nannies, nurses and teachers. They gave to the strange lands much more than what they took from those places. Our Lady Theresa D’Gama belongs to this category.
Even while being dutiful to a husband who is obsessed with glories and riches in the age of exploits and explorations, Lady Theresa never lets go of her moral compass. That is the reason she entrusts Barroz to take care of her child Isabella.
Resolute and full of fortitude, the lady is a stronger personality than D’Gama himself. While her husband wavers in his decisions at the point of imminent disaster, she is sure of the priorities when the enemy is at the gates …
“ … Oh my God... my child… our children... they need to be taken to board the galleons... now! Do it quick.”
Graceful and compassionate, Lady Theresa should represent the true goodness and missionary spirit that went out from Europe to all parts of the world during the second half of the second millennium.
While D'Gama is obsessed with his valuables, Lady Theresa, morally stronger than her husband correctly surmises
“ … contrary to what your master and my lord D’Gama thinks … Isabella, our child... she is the true treasure!”
All Images & Text in this webpage are from the RESEARCH, PRODUCTION DESIGN, PRE-VIZ,
Rehearsals & Preps by navodayastudio
Isa arives with dad Ron Madhav for
Global Investors' Meet & Casino Auction
Storyboard & Production Design (pre-covid), now been shelved.
Prithviraj as Ron Madhav
Padmavati Rao as Susan Mathew
Shayala Mcfree as Isa / Isabella
Rehearsals & Production Design (pre-covid), now been shelved.
* Flags
Silk was used for military and ceremonial flags. With different designs on each side, they often bore complicated allegorical or heraldry embroidered/ painted on by master artists. Made up of silk satin material, they had ‘trim’ embellishments around the edge. Also a lot of hand embroidery in gold thread bullion wire (similar to present day ‘zardosi’ embroidery) and applique work decorated the flags. Woolen bunting is a lightweight fabric prized for Nautical use, due to its fly ability and resistance to rot from exposure to seawater. Linen was used for the header and designs on flags because it was inexpensive.
Navodaya Research Team at Goa Archives
Tiju Kurian. Sureshkanthan
Gauthami. Josy Joseph. Jensen Zacharia
Sasidharan. Maria Branco
Baburajan. Baiju. Sethu. Alice. RK
3D Shot Division, Storyboard & Previz for the entire film. 5 artists, 1480 drawings, 9 months.
Under Portuguese rule, Linschoten served as the archbishop's secretary in Goa between 1583 - 88.
He published a book, Itinerario, which graphically displayed, for the first time, everyday life in Goa.
It is through his detailed drawings we today understand Medieval Goa.
Jan Huygen van Linschoten
was a merchant, trader, historian and … a Dutch spy in Goa!
He traveled extensively.
Portuguese heraldry, which encompasses the modern and historic traditions of the Portuguese Empire, is part of the larger Iberian tradition of heraldry.
It grants coats of arms to individuals (usually members of the royal family or the nobility), cities, colonies and other institutions. The Portuguese Coat of Arms has five smaller coat of arms in the center, representing the 5 wounds of Jesus Christ. This is a symbol of gratitude for the divine victory during the battles. The round bottom shield has been the preferred shape to display the coat of arms in Portugal, causing this shape to often be referred to as the Portuguese shield.
Heraldic devices were emblems of a particular color and shape used for military & personal identification, were passed on from father to son and were unique to the individual within each realm. Having a coat of arms was a mark of belonging to the warrior class and being entitled to knighthood, even if one was so poor that one could barely afford sword, armor, and horse. (extracts. research)
Flags
Silk was used for military and ceremonial flags. With different designs on each side, they often bore complicated allegorical or heraldry embroidered/ painted on by master artists. *(below)
Servant Attire
During 17th century Goa, the wealthy showed off by dressing up – especially their servants, in grand clothes!
The men had the right upper ear pierced to wear bhik bali (a cluster of pearls embedded on a well-designed gold base); on the lower part of the ear, they wore a golden ring with emeralds known as zod. Sometimes pearls were suspended on the gold ring. This ornament was known as ehoucuddo. The men also wore a gold chain around the neck (contto).
Exquisitely Detailed Embroidery
Anuja Raveendran
Supervising Flags
Costume Design & Execution
Medieval Iberian/ Goan
Intricate Embroidery and 'Zardori' by
Jyoti Madnani Singh
3D Shot Division, Storyboard & Previz.
5 artists, 1480 drawings, 9 months.
Lensing for the shot
with Artemis
Previz, Stereography & Lensing remote location recce for a 3D production
At Base Station Kakkanad Studio, Stereographer Nambiathiri is explaining to Script Supervisor Suraj Varma the convergence measurements being made at the proposed ferry location.
Meanwhile scouting at Location Ribandar Divar Ferry Crossing, in real time, AD Althaf Hussein and the drone crew are following stereo-measurement instructions from base.
Chasing the Ghost, Isa catapults and jumps off the Ferry
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To dissuade Isa from following, Voodoo throws magic marbles. Marbles create smoke screen.
WHAM!
Isa smashes the marbles.
They fly into the audience.
Catching hold of Chota's cycle, pedaling furiously, Isa follows the ghost from Goan countrysides to Panjim’s narrow market streets.
"Bloody Retard! … Spoil my dad's casino plan,
would you? Stop you dog, …”
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The chase reaches Fontainhas.
Some funny turn of events, and the roles get reversed!
Action Choreographer
Jakkrit (JJ) checking the GPS
co-ordinates for the shot, as he plans.
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Patto Pedastrian Bridge
Barroz & Voodoo on sidecar bike
Isa on cycle chasing
Pipe set to be construced
Custom-built Mechanism as in the Roller Coaster 3 Wheel Assembly - underfriction, or up-stop, wheels; tractor, or running, wheels; and side friction wheels.
CHASE phase 3. Action Design
After studying the storyboard, Action Choreographer Jakkrit Kanokpodjananon (JJ) explains to Visual Effects Designer Bradley Cadman (Binc) and VFX Supervisor Rekha Kalra on how he would execute the crossing of Rio De Ourem in live action - without the use of any Computer Graphics.
Althaf Hussein & Drone Crew discussing shot with the Previz Team.
SONG SEQUENCES
Crane up from Theresa (Close Shot) inside the palanquin to child Isabella jumping up and down on top of the hand-carried transport.
The moving palanquin is taking a 90°turn at the Viceroy's arch.
Tracking the palanquin (Left to Right) with Linschoten townscape in the background. Street structures are passed by in the foreground.
Fusta Boat. Song Scene.
D’Gama family goes outing on a fusta boat ride.
High tea is being served during the journey.
Isabella drops and breaks one of Theresa’s precious painted china.
To pacify the distressed child, Barroz plays ‘ducks and drakes’ with the porcelain pieces.
The sight of pieces skipping across the waters makes her laugh.
Porcelain plates come towards the audience making them laugh (hopefully).
Fusta Reborn!
Production Design consultant Maria Branco researching on the now extinct Fusta Boats of Goa.
Fusta @ Production Design
Jamal Marakkar (right) and Sooraj (left) Art Assistants with their Fusta model.
WATER WALKING SEQUENCE
Concept
Isa follows the navigation map she has received, and reaches the waterfront to behold her nemesis.
Preparing Navodaya Studio Backyard (below) for Water Walk Scene
A tumultuous exchange ensues. In good faith, Barroz offers to demonstrate his prowess.
You scoundrel … you devil … enjoying yourself? You hacked my phone!
Thanks to you, now I am blamed for toppling the minister.
Isa acknowledges (grudgingly) the experience as pleasant .... in fact, transported (and transformed) into a world of fantasy, ... exhilarating indeed!!
Lensing rehearsals at the Studio Backyard plot constructed for the Water Walk Scene (below) ADs Jensen Zacharia and Shalini Nagar as stand-in.
But suddenly ... SPLASH!! Isa goes under.
Helped by Barroz, Isa comes up sputtering and cursing ...
... only to emerge from a swimming pool at the top deck of her dad Ron's 14-story-high cruise ship!
" .... below the rollicking surface lies the fact that Isa is more spooky and ghoulish than the real ghost! Following serious mischief and toxic misbehavior at Darjeeling Residential School, Isa is presently under suspension".
Script Consulting Sessions
from R to L - Jijo, Maya and Revathy discussing Isa's character with psychiatrist Dr. C.J. John
Isa,
a character study
Samhita Arni, Novelist (right) helps Shayala, performer (left) understand Isa's character.
Wearing a Halloween mask, Isa lands in front of the Warden who flees, screaming! Isa then runs through the dormitory, scaring the inmates.
A relay race. Isa has had a head start. Before passing the baton, Isa clicks a selfie to show that she is ahead of others. At this, the next runner shouts obscenities. In anger, Isa throws away the baton. Acrimony ensues.
Isa / Isabella Duality
Susan - “Isa, at times … all of us do talk to imaginary persons … When alone, I talk to my long dead Mathukutty … just like you do .. to you mother.
Yet, Isa … to believe that you do see a person whom nobody else can’t … Isn’t that taking things a bit too far?”
Isa’s eyes starts darting.
Susan – “And, the fall of the Finance Minister during yesterday's function … just like your Principal on the School Anniversary stage! … Don’t tell me the ghost came to Goa along with you!!”
Isa, a paradox
“You stupid ghost! …tell her … tell her …” whispered Vudoo from behind.
“Pipe down you imp!” hushed Barroz.
Isa comes near to find who Barroz is conversing with.
She finds an inanimate voodoo doll behind him.
She takes it and says …
“Barroz Papae … so you too read a lot of ‘Calvin & Hobbes’ .... eh ?
Imagining this doll to be alive … It is a fantasy of Barroz. Right?
Just like Isa believing that ‘there is a ghost guarding a treasure for her' ! ... Correct?”
Barroz gapes and asks – “Where did you get this idea?”
Isa – “It’s Susan aunty’s observation … about me …”
University of Coimbra
Convocation Day
Dept. of Archaeology & Museology
Isa graduates ... >>
and Prakash Moorthy illustrates a sequel for Barroz ...
(Another one of those Fantasies !)
All Images & Text in this webpage are from the RESEARCH, PRODUCTION DESIGN, PRE-VIZ,
Rehearsals & Preps by navodayastudio.
The absolute ownership of the contents
along with the Intellectual Property Rights
is vested with the author