Caminho das Índias

Caminho das Índias
Genre	Telenovela
Created by	Glória Perez
Directed by	Marcos Schechtman
Starring	Juliana Paes Letícia Sabatella Rodrigo Lombardi Alexandre Borges Débora Bloch Tânia Khallil Márcio Garcia Bruno Gagliasso Marjorie Estiano Cléo Pires and big cast
Theme music composer	Vishal Bhardwaj
Opening theme	Beedi Jalaile "Sunidhi Chauhan"
Country of origin	Brazil
Original language(s)	Portuguese language
No. of episodes	203 (original run) 160 (syndication)
Production
Location(s)	India & Brazil
Camera setup	Multiple-camera setup
Running time	50–80 Minutes
Release
Original network	Rede Globo
Picture format	(HDTV) 1080i – 16:9 (SDTV) 480i – 4:3
Original release	January 19 – September 11, 2009
Chronology
Preceded by	A Favorita
Followed by	Viver a Vida
External links
Website	caminhodasindias.globo.com

India – A Love Story^[1] (Portuguese: Caminho das Índias, lit: Path to the Indies; also known as There, Where the Love Is in Georgia) is a Brazilian Emmy-winning television telenovela (soap opera) produced by Rede Globo and first broadcast from January 19 to September 11, 2009. It ranked within the top of the most watched shows on Brazilian television. Caminho das Índias storylines examine beliefs and values that differentiate the Eastern and Western world, the telenovela brings to the screen a story of contrasts. Telefutura aired an edited version of India from October 5, 2010 to April 25, 2011 at 10 pm central,^[2][3] removing episode previews and a custom-made intro and commercial bumpers were produced.

Starring Juliana Paes and Rodrigo Lombardi respectively, the main Protagonists. Letícia Sabatella respectively, the main Antagonist. It also has Tânia Khallil, Débora Bloch, Alexandre Borges and Bruno Gagliasso as the main Co-Protagonists.

The telenovela was originally screened as six one-hour chapters per week, from Monday to Saturday. It was one of the Brazil's highest-rated programmes, often appearing at the top of the daily's ratings released by the Brazilian Institute of Public Opinion and Statistics. The average audience share for a chapter reached between 36 and 45 millions, with each point equivalent to sixty thousand households tuned on Rede Globo in the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo.

Story

The title can be interpreted in two ways: it is Portuguese for "Route to the Indies" (literally) or "India's Way" (figuratively). The plot spans a period during the transition of India into a modern democracy (in the 1950s), parts during the 1970s, and finally (and the majority of the plot) during modern period (1990s–2000s), where most of the complex plot begins to unravel. There are many flashbacks that figure prominently in the resolution of the narrative. But the story is equally divided between continents, as the story delves with characters in Rio de Janeiro, Rajasthan and some elements in Dubai. Many themes are explored in the novella, including love, reason, sanity, insanity, and finally tradition versus modernity (not to mention juvenile delinquency or bullying). With beliefs and values that separate the West and the East, the soap brings to the screen a story full of contrasts. The story is treated from a complex mesh of relationships, of families, their familiars and friends, who all circle in a "small world" where everyone has a relationship that connects to the other characters in some way.

Synopsis

Reproduction of Ganges River to the telenovela India – A Love Story in scenographic city of Projac.

One of the main plot points is a forbidden love between castes, as played by two characters with different origins, Maya and Bahuan. Maya is clever and amazingly charming with dimples, enchanting eyes and all. She is also cheerful, an employee of a call-center in Rajasthan and part of a traditional family of Vaishyas – the trader caste. Bahuan is finishing his studies in America, where he works, but could never forget the humiliation he had to go through as a child for being a dalit (untouchable).

Bahuan is the son of two servants, also untouchables, who were burned at the stake for accidentally touching their master while he bathed. As a young boy, the disorientated youth, walks by the River Ganges, where Opash Ananda is with his two sons: Amithab and Raj. Amithab (the older son) out of curiosity, touches Bahuan, reaching for his necklace. Opash sees this and reprimands his son, since Bahuan is an untouchable and is not "clean". Shankar, a liberal Brahmin appears and defends Bahuan, beginning a fight with Opash that will prevail until the end of the narrative. Opash leaves with his two children. Bahuan recounts his troubled life to the attentive Shankar, who reveals his lonely life and adopts the child, despite the prejudice he suffers from many people.

Maya has reached the age to marry and her parents, the perfume maker Manu Meetha and Kochi, search all over for a suitable husband. Like every Indian girl, she had always believed they were the best suited people to find the right man; but that was until she met Bahuan. Moved by an overwhelming feeling, Maya is willing to impose her will to her family and doesn't understand why he seems so reticent. Only when the truth about his origins come to light she understands his fears. Between promises and risks, the couple plan a future together and keep being surprised by fate. On their way, are Raj Ananda, her parents' "golden dream"; Bahuan's investment in his career; and the Brazilian company Cadore, of which he becomes a partner years later.

Raj is the middle child of Opash and Indira Ananda. Opash is a wealthy tradesman, who makes the agreement with Manu for Maya and Raj's marriage (making it even harder for her and Bahuan). Opash and Indira have three other children: Amithab, Ravi (the youngest son) and Shanti (their only daughter). Amithab (the eldest), married to Surya, with whom he had a precocious daughter, Anusha. Amitahab is the dutiful older son, but not having a male heir has diminished his status (although not overtly), a point of jealousy that drives the ambitious Surya. Ravi, the youngest boy, falls in love with a Brazilian girl, Camilla Motta, and their relationship, which eventually leads to marriage will bring the conflict between East and West to the forefront, as Camilla tries to adapt to the Hindu culture. Shanti, the youngest and the only girl, had been prepared for marriage since she was a small child, learning the "womanly arts" of the society: dancing, brewing chai (tea), looking beautiful and serving members of the family. But she is uncomfortable in this role, and with her friendship with Camilla she explores new possibilities beyond the home. She aspires to obtain a university education and be free to choose who she falls in love with, or if she marries. This is in stark contrast with Opash's mother and the most dominant figure in the house. She is the vanguard of tradition in the Ananda home, quoting traditional proverbs, insinuating normative roles and generally annoying Indira and Surya. But she holds a secret which will affect the people of the Ananda home. Meanwhile, she too is always being annoyed by Karan (or Chacha), brother of her late husband; her brother-in-law, a capricious older man, he lives in Opash's home after his wife left him for another.

While Maya and Bahuan secretively attempt to be together, Raj has also fallen in love with Duda while in Brazil. The feeling is mutual; however, they cannot be happy together because of his parent's arranged marriage to Maya. Duda attempts to fight for Raj's affections and his families preconceived notions. During the course of the story she becomes disillusioned, and eventually the conflict between the possible and the improbable force her to abandon her relationship with Raj, in favor of a new love. She works in an aesthetic clinic owned by Ilana and Chiara, two very different women. Ilana is married to Cesar Motta, an ambitious man who can't control their son, Zeca, a boy without imposed limits, considered a delinquent and leader of a group of bullies at the local high school. Chiara, although a beautiful mature businesswoman, reads a lot of self-help books and who will, as the plot progresses, be involved romantically with Murilo, a loyal employee in the company of the Cadore family and brother of Tonia, girlfriend of Tarso Cadore, a young schizophrenic.

The plot also portrays the couple Sílvia and Raul. Married for a long time, they have a daughter, Julia, who is Camilla and Leinha's friend. The couple's lives will change drastically with the arrival of Yvone, Sílvia's highschool friend, who comes back when her friends needs her help the most, since she is experiencing a crisis in her marriage. But, behind her innocent face, Yvone hides a personality disorder: she is a psychopath. She will take advantage of the trust deposited in her to ruin many dreams and illusions.

Audience

Cast

Invited Actresses

Soundtrack

Caminho das Índias vol. 1, National

Cover: Juliana Paes

1. Beedi Jalaile – Sukhwinder Singh & Sunidhi Chauhan (Opening theme)
2. Eu Nasci Há Dez Mil Anos Atrás – Nando Reis (India's location theme)
3. Pára-Raio – Skank (Murilo's theme)
4. Uma Prova De Amor – Zeca Pagodinho (Castanho and Suellen's theme)
5. Vamos Fugir (Gimme Your Love) – Gilberto Gil (Tarso and Tônia's theme)
6. Ela Disse – Marcelo D2 (Júlia's theme)
7. Memórias – Pitty (Inês theme)
8. Martelo Bigorna – Lenine (Yvone's theme)
9. Nada Por Mim – Paula Toller (Camila's theme)
10. Alma – Zélia Duncan (Melissa and Ramiro's theme)
11. Sob Medida – Isabella Taviani
12. Lembra De Mim – Emílio Santiago (Sílvia's theme)
13. Amor, Meu Grande Amor – Ângela Rô Rô (Chiara and Murilo's theme)
14. Não Se Esqueça De Mim – Nana Caymmi & Erasmo Carlos (Maya and Bahuan's theme)
15. Feliz – Gonzaguinha (Raj and Duda's theme)
16. O Vento Vai Responder (Blowin' in the Wind) – Zé Ramalho (Dayse's theme)
17. Dois pra lá, dois pra cá – Elis Regina (Rio de Janeiro's location theme)
18. Até Quem Sabe – Nara Leão (Raul's theme)
19. Sufoco da Vida – Harmonia Enlouquece
20. Você Não Vale Nada – Calcinha Preta (Norminha's theme)

Caminho das Índias vol. 2, Indian

1. Beedi Jalaile – Sunidhi Chauhan, Sukhwinder Singh, Nachiketa Chakraborty and Clinton Cerejo opening theme
2. Kajra Re – Alisha Chinai, Shankar Mahadevan and Javed Ali
3. Nagada Nagada – Sonu Nigam e Javed Ali
4. Sajna Ve Sajna – Sunidhi Chauhan
5. Main Vari Vari – Kavita Krishnamurti e Reena Bharadwaj (theme of Maya and Bahuan)
6. Mast Kalandar – Sunidhi Chauhan
7. Chori Chori Gori Se – Abhijeet and Udit Narayan
8. Salaam-E-Ishq – Sonu Nigam and Shreya Ghoshal
9. Salaam – Alka Yagnik
10. Azeem o Shaan Shahensh – Mohamed Aslam
11. Bangra Jaya – Alexandre de Faria

Caminho das Índias vol. 3, Lapa

Cover: Juliana Alves

1. Eu vou pra Lapa – Alcione
2. Malandro é malandro, mané é mané – Diogo Nogueira (theme of César and Ilana)
3. Só faltou você Lado a Lado B – Leandro Sapucahy
4. Vaso Ruim – Casuarina (theme of Radesh)
5. Tristeza Pé no Chão – Teresa Cristina & Grupo Semente
6. Amor de verdade – Beth Carvalho
7. Errei – Sururu na Roda (Live)
8. Pretinha Jóia Rara – Moyseis Marques
9. Em Desfile Chatos – Jota Canalha
10. Sal e Pimenta – Gabriel o Pensador
11. Puro êxtase – Barão Vermelho
12. Anjo da madrugada – Babi Xavier (theme of Duda and Lucas)
13. Lourinha Bombril (Parate y mira) – Bangalafumenga
14. Legal, Vou ficar – Quatro Fatos
15. Põe aê uma música – DJ Alex Guedes
16. Uma flor uma raiz – Fino
17. Coletivo Mezcla – Riosalsa (theme of Suellen and Ademi)

Caminho das Índias vol. 4, International

1. Halo – Beyoncé Knowles (theme of Yvone)
2. Thinking of You – Katy Perry (theme of Bahuan and Shivani)
3. Orishas – Público
4. Never Gonna Be Alone – Nickelback (theme of Tônia and Tarso)
5. Tip of My Tongue – Something Sally feat. Joss Stone (theme of Aída and Darío)
6. Small Talk – Ovi
7. To Love you All Over Again – Madeleine Peyroux (theme of Chiara)
8. Sober – Pink
9. Use Somebody – Kings Of Leon
10. Lies – McFly (theme of Zeca)
11. Madly – Tristan Prettyman (theme of Duda and Lucas)
12. Quando e se – Ari Hest (theme of Silvia and Murilo)
13. Lay Lady Lay – Dan (theme of Dr. Castanho and Suellen)
14. I'm in the Mood for Love – Daniel Boaventura (theme of Maya and Raj)
15. All the Way – Ronaldo Canto e Mello (theme of Camila and Ravi)
16. Smoke Gets in Your Eyes – Oséas (theme of Shankar y Laksm)

Caminho das Índias vol. 5, Instrumental

1. Os portais do Taj Mahal – Alexandre de Faria (Geral theme)
2. Tema de Maya e Bahuan – Alexandre de Faria (theme of Maya and Bahuan)
3. Quase um Intocável – Alexandre de Faria (Untouchable's theme)
4. Caminho das Índias – Alexandre de Faria (theme of geral dance)
5. Nos passos de Shankar – Alexandre de Faria(theme of Shankar)
6. Meu Salaam – Alexandre de Faria (romantic theme)
7. Meditação e Karma – Alexandre de Faria (incidental theme)
8. Re Tchori – Alexandre de Faria (theme of geral dance)
9. Habanera para Tarso – Alexandre de Faria (theme of Tarso)
10. Maxixe Chorado – Alexandre de Faria (theme of Lapa neighboord)
11. Uma Canção sem Palavras – Alexandre de Faria (tema triste)
12. Tango da Ausência – Alexandre de Faria (theme of Lapa neighboord)
13. Berceuse pour un Nuit – Alexandre de Faria (incidental theme)
14. Toda Levada – Alexandre de Faria

Awards

In November 2009, Caminho das Índias was prized as Best telenovela in the 2009 Emmy International.^[4] In Brazil, it won 4 awards for Best telenovela. The cast won many awards, too. Bruno Gagliasso won 5 awards as Best Supporting Actor. Dira Paes won 4 awards as Best Supporting Actress. Rodrigo Lombardi won 2 awards as Best Actor. Juliana Paes won 1 award as Best Actress.

See also

• Brazil–India relations
• Caste system in India
• Culture of India
• Indian soap opera
• Masala chai

References

External links

• Caminho das Índias on IMDb
• Caminho das Índias (Official Website) (in Portuguese)
• Official international trailer
• Telenovela-World Bilingual Forum