From 'Kajra Re' To Sarees And Intercaste Romance: Why This Brazilian TV Show About India Is Going Viral Worldwide

Brazil’s fascination with Indian culture has resurfaced after the clips from the 2009 Brazilian telenovela Caminho das Índias (India – A Love Story) went viral across social media platforms.

The show, heavily inspired by Bollywood films and Indian family dramas, has sparked a wave of nostalgia among viewers worldwide.

Originally aired between January and September 2009, the telenovela ran for over 200 episodes and revolved around an intercaste romance set against the backdrop of India’s changing social landscape.

The story followed Maya, played by Brazilian actor Juliana Paes, a young woman from a wealthy Indian merchant family whose parents are determined to arrange her marriage. However, Maya falls in love with Bahuan, a Dalit man portrayed by Márcio

Garcia, whose journey of ambition and education becomes central to the narrative.

Although the series was fictional and stylised, it drew heavily from Indian aesthetics, traditions, and Bollywood-inspired storytelling. Its opening credits famously featured the song “Beedi” from the Bollywood film Omkara, sung by Sunidhi Chauhan, alongside visuals of the Taj Mahal, elephants, and snakes. The series also recreated several iconic Bollywood tracks and dance sequences, including “Kajra Re.”

Interest in the show resurfaced after users on social media began sharing edits and clips from the series. One viral edit posted by user @DuskyPrincess featuring Maya amassed over 4.5 million views. Fans also pointed out that Juliana Paes later recreated some of Maya’s iconic looks during the viral ‘Asoka’ TikTok trend in 2024.

According to reports by Variety, production company TV Globo sent a 40-member cast and crew to India for nearly 20 days of on-location shooting. The team filmed scenes in cities including Jaipur and Agra, while elaborate Indian-inspired sets were also constructed inside Brazilian studios to recreate parts of India.

A post shared by the Reddit community r/IndianTellyTalk further sparked a discussion around the series. The post described the show as a Brazilian soap opera that “showcased Indian culture and things” and noted how widely popular it had once been in Brazil.

The resurfaced clips triggered an outpouring of reactions online, particularly from viewers who grew up watching the show.

“Caminho das indias was an absolute banger , as a little indian girl living in mozambique this made me feel really happy growing up because id never think id see something similar, brazilian telenovelas are very popular in the PALOPS (portuguese speaking countries of Africa) so I remember seeing this as a child and being super excited,” wrote one Instagram user.

“Brazilians can represent any race cuz they come in all shapes and colors,” another user commented.

“Amazing post 👏 this show was indeed a huge hit in Brazil, it’s from 2009 but people still watch it and love it!” a third person wrote.

Several Brazilian viewers also joined the discussion. “As a Brazilian I’m so happy you guys like it! There’s this huge concern that it portrays Indian culture in a inadequate way,” one user said.

Another commenter added, “I’m an Indian living in Brazil and almost every Brazilian I meet, asks me about this series.”

The show’s music also left a lasting impact on audiences. “Because of this show, almost every brazilian knows some indian songs, like “Main Vari Vari”, “Kajra Re”, “Chori Chori Gori Se”. They launched a CD with these songs! It was a success! ❤️” one user wrote.

Meanwhile, another viral comment summed up the show’s cultural influence in Brazil: “Fun fact 99% of the knowledge Brazilians have about India come from this soap opera.”