For the longest time, Goa has been a top preference of locale for directors and filmmakers, thanks to its picturesque landscapes, vibrant culture, and unique blend of Portuguese influence and Indian charm. The pristine beaches, secluded, verdant landscapes, lush greenery, and historic, dilapidated architecture provide an ideal backdrop for a diverse range of cinematic narratives. Whether it's the youthful escapades portrayed in the era-defining "Dil Chahta Hai" or the supernatural twists of "Go Goa Gone," Goa has never let the makers down. It is a city that has sheltered the acts and elements of filmmaking from the onset of the moving image in the country.
Explore the idyllic charm of Goa and the many points of perceptions into the old coastal state through the lenses of various films. Seek out the locations from your favourite shots and take both your fandom and love for the place a notch higher.
Directed by the masterful Shyam Benegal, "Trikal" is a film set in Goa during the twilight era of Portuguese rule. The film revolves around a certain Goan Christian Souza-Soares family and is narrated in the form of nostalgic flashback. The patriarch of the family is dead and the matriarch attempts to hold on to the seams as people find themselves antagonised with clashing views on being a part of India as the Indian troops wait on the gates. The film conjures strong nostalgia in being a person's revisit and recollections of the native house.
The film is said to have been inspired by the life of legendary cartoonist Mario Miranda, a awardee of Padma Vibhushan. It is also shot in the ancestral house of Mario Miranda in Loutolim, Goa. The 300-year-old house, built in Portuguese architectural style, is situated off the main square of Loutolim, west of the Church of Saviour of the World.
The village is known for its pristine atmosphere and proximity to beaches. There are many attractions to be explored in this village including Big Foot Goa, the Figueiredo Mansion, Casa Araujo Alvares, Rachol Fort Gate and Reknacc River Viewpoint, among other things.
The film "Josh," directed by Mansoor Khan, was a commercial hit and instantly picked for its soundtracks. With star cast including Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai, Chandrachur Singh and Sharad Kapoor, the film seeked to bring out the communal violence prominent in Goan grassroots in the form of youth gangsterism. It is shot in the port city Vasco da Gama, or Vasco, in the west coast of Goa.
Within its many sequences, the film effectively explores the many locales at its disposal in Vasco. In the famous "Apun Bola" song, we come across the ruins of Church of St. Augustine. The church was built between 1597 and 1602 and is part of the World Heritage Site, Churches and convents of Goa. In another sequence towards the end, we observed a suspenseful fight sequence in the Vasai Fort.
Also known as Bassein Fort, the monument was originally built by the Portuguese in 1536, captured by the Marathas in 1739 and later by the British in 1802. Among other places in Vasco that you must visit are Mormugao Fort, Baina Beach, Naval Aviation Museum, St. Andrew's Church and Japanese Garden.
"Dil Chahta Hai," a coming of age film about three friends, came out in 2001, an era of newly internalised neoliberalism, and was an instant hit. Young director Farhan Akhtar had managed about perfectly to encapsulate the essence of a certain youth culture that had grown on newly introduced McDonald's meals and cosmopolitan aspirations framed by preceding blockbusters like "Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge." The film was such a hit that youngsters had started fashioning goatees like Aamir Khan in the film. However, goatee was not the only thing; the film also earmarked once and for all the culture of day trips and weekend trips to Goa.
In the film, the three friends, played by Aamir Khan, Akshay Khanna and Saif Ali Khan take a rather happening weekend trip. The trio is seen pacing their car turnwise through the secluded highway to Goa dotted with coconut trees and flanked by the Arabian Sea. In Goa, the gang indulges in beach activities, relaxation and rejuvenation alongside an iconic, contemplative visit to the Chapora Fort.
The fort is located in Bardez, high above the Chapora River. It is a historical fort built by Adil Shah only to be besieged by Sambaji, the son of Shivaji, and later go into the Portuguese hands in 1741. You must visit Bardez for it presents multiple more attractions apart from Chapora Fort such as the Anjuna Beach, Fort Aguada, Baga Beach and Candolim Beach.
Directed by Rohit Shetty, "Golmaal: Fun Unlimited" is a comedy about four slacker friends who depend on scam, swindle and fraud as a way to get through life. The film is shot at multiple locations, Goa among them being one of director's favourite getaway. Shetty does a great job at bringing out the idyllic tendency of the sleepy coastal city. Spectators are also treated to various great shots based around the sites in Goa.
Early on in the film, the Old GMC Complex of Panjim acts as the college of the characters. The Complex is a heritage building on the banks of the Mandovi river that was built in 1972. The majestic building served as the venue for the Serendipity Arts Festival in 2023. Next to the Old GMC Complex is the Maquinez Palace that was built in 1702 and now houses the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) that hosts the International Film Festival of India (IFFI).
The film also featured the iconic Panjim Market Street known for its vibrant shops. You can buy cashews, sweets, local souvenirs, handbags and artefacts.
The film “Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd.” is a comedy drama based on the old format of road films such as "Bombay to Goa" (1972). It brings together six newly-married couples who land upon various self discoveries coming in contact with each other. As a road film, it brings about the locales of Goa quite intimately from the perspective of Goa as a honeymoon destination.
Through the honeymooning couples, the film takes you to various iconic locations of Goa. In a day tour scene, we witness the 17th-century Portuguese Fort Aguada, located on Sinquerim Beach, overlooking the Arabian Sea. A song, "Halke Halke," unfolds at the Corjuem Fort built in 1550 in Aldona village. In the same song, we also witness the Dona Paula Beach, the neighbourhood of Panaji, home to the National Institute of Oceanography.
Later on in the film, spectators are treated to the majestic architecture of Our Lady of the Mount Chapel, a Roman Catholic church in Old Goa. Built between 1510 and 1519, the chapel exhibits Baroque with Mannerist style of architecture.