Barroz is an upcoming Indian Malayalam-language fantasy film directed by Mohanlal in his directorial debut. The screenplay was written by Jijo Punnoose based on his novel Barroz: Guardian of D'Gama's Treasure. The film was produced by Antony Perumbavoor through Aashirvad Cinemas. It stars Mohanlal in the title role, with Maya, Sara Vega, Tuhin Menon, Cesar Lorente Raton, Kallirroi Tziafeta, and Guru Somasundaram in other important roles.
Principal photography for the film commenced in March 2021 but was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic in India. The film underwent significant changes in the delay. Filming restarted in December with a revised story, screenplay, and cast, and concluded in July 2022. The majority of the shooting took place in Kochi and Goa, with two songs filmed in Bangkok and Chennai. The film was shot in 3D.
Premise
Barroz, a treasure guardian has been protecting Vasco da Gama's hidden treasure for 400 years and has been entrusted to hand over the wealth only to a true descendant of da Gama.
Cast
Production
Development
On 21 April 2019, Mohanlal took to social media to announce his directorial debut—a 3D film adaptation of Jijo Punnoose's novel Barroz: Guardian of D'Gama's Treasure. Originally, Mohanlal and T. K. Rajeev Kumar had planned to create a 3D stage play, seeking guidance from Punnoose, the director of India's first 3D film, My Dear Kuttichathan (1984). However, due to the high production costs involved, the project was put on hold. During their discussion, Mohanlal proposed the idea of adapting Punnoose's novel into a film, with himself as the director. Punnoose agreed to the proposal. Mohanlal also mentioned that the film would be shot in Goa and include foreign actors. Described as a "fantasy film for children", the story revolves around a 17th-century fable rooted in a Portuguese-Afro-Indian myth along the Malabar Coast, recounting the tale of a hidden treasure belonging to the D'Gama family. The story explores the maritime history of Portugal, Spain, Africa, and India, while the mythical being is known locally as kappiri muthappan. According to Mohanlal, it took one-and-a-half years to finalize the screenplay. Initially, he encouraged Punnoose to direct the film, but Punnoose declined. Mohanlal also considered other directors before deciding to take up the role himself. He mentioned that Punnoose granted him freedom to make changes to the story, as the original premise had a more serious tone that underwent revisions.
Punnoose discovered the Portuguese-Afro-Indian myth in 1980 while exploring various indigenous fables for India's first 3D film. Eventually, he opted to adapt the kuttichathan myth instead. In 2003, he revisited the subject and crafted a story that he shared with friends. Years later, responding to his colleagues' insistence, Punnoose decided to turn the story into a film in English and Hispanic languages, taking on the role of director. He revised the 2003 story and penned it as a novel in 2017 to claim copyright. It features two primary characters—Barroz, an elderly Afrikaner ghost, and Isabella, a teenage girl of Malayali-Portuguese descent. While Punnoose's screenplay deviated from the novel in terms of setting and narrative technique. Foreign actors were considered for various roles, including that of Barroz. However, the project underwent significant changes in the course of events.
In a 2022 blog, Punnoose provided a detailed explanation of the film's development and its departure from his original work. In mid-2018, Mohanlal and Kumar sought Punnoose's consultation for a 3D stage show. Kumar proposed making the film in Malayalam language, with Mohanlal portraying Barroz. In February 2019, Punnoose changed the character to a Malayali to accommodate Mohanlal, but opted out of directing. Mohanlal then took on the role of director, while Antony Perumbavoor joined as the producer. Punnoose revised the screenplay 22 times to his satisfaction and to the liking of Mohanlal and Antony, while keeping Isabella as the central character. Mohanlal contributed several story elements, which were incorporated into the film.