Today I got a WhatsApp message from my classmate telling me to watch a series called 'Typewriter' on Netflix for a very special reason. I remember we had a conversation on movies a while back and I mentioned that, like her, we too have an excellent plethora of choices right from Netflix, Amazon Prime, You Tube as well as DTH channels. And then we started comparing notes on Netflix movies since that was common to both of us. We spoke about what we had watched and highlighted to each other what should be on our lists of 'what to watch next'. So, after her message yesterday, I started to watch the series last evening and ended it last night before I went off to sleep.
The movie... It is available on Netflix. Not sure about Amazon Prime or anywhere else.
To give you an insight and opinion, if you like, the series surrounds the book written by a dead author. The book, 'The Ghost of Sultanpore' set mostly in Goa (I guess) spanning in parts from the early 50's and again the early 80's to the present day is created by Sujoy Ghosh who also is the director, executive producer and co-writer. It is a 5-part series and it has a bit of something for everyone. A lot of suspense and unfolding of events, a bit of family, kids and school (that's where you SFX girls might get a little interested). About the horror part, I would not rate it a 5 on 5; I would safely go with a 2 on 5, but that is just me. I have not found one movie 'horror noteworthy' till date at least in the Indian movie scene. But what you will see is bits of Goa with a lot of familiar names we often hear. The other good thing for people like me is the part-English dialogues and subtitles.
The story line is about 3 kids who are trying to get to the bottom of the book 'The Ghost of Sultanpore' each for his/her own reasons. So kids-style ghost-hunting is what you will get, with a bit of the Bollywood touch of course. The kids are keen to take their search to where a lot of scenes are centred around - an old house called the 'Bardez Villa'. I must admit that it does have its moments. So Bardez is a place like Porvorim or Panjim not a taluka like we know it. Common and familiar names like Maria, Fernandes, Peter an many more are thrown about as commonly as they appear in reality.
Seems like the move is shot fairly recently because of some of the recent structures I have seen around Panjim. But yes, I have taken a few screenshots from the series for the sole purpose of posting here. So please enjoy and remember your school days. I sure did.
This used to be the part outside our study room and our assembly area when it did not rain. Here is where we used to stand looking up for the flag hoisting. And the part of the verandah where Sir Jude used to park his bike :-)
Seems to be a new part of the school. During our time, we used the entrance to the left.
We did not have this new entrance to the school. I remember some trees and the basement below... a backdrop for some of our old photos.
I tried to capture this because of the school name that is up on the building. Has the name changed? Or is it the movie where they changed it?
I am sure we all (especially boarders) remember sitting on this prohibited corner parapet. Some used to watch the road from this vantage point for visitors, boyfriends zooming past a few times a day..
Who remembers the Ashoka trees? I have a few pictures clicked around this area (below).
Pointing to the old parlour overlooking the ground where we used to create so many memories on a daily basis.
Outside the parlour... boarders will remember this location. The uniforms are part of the movie I guess. I was wondering if SFX changed their uniforms.
View from the gate...
Outside the gate...
Took this screenshot in remembrance of our dormitories (both of them)... At times we used to get awesome views from here. Up there is also the place we used to dry our delicate's.
This was inside the gate. There were these 2 small revolving gates on the side, I remember. Is it still there? Anyway, we never got to sit here for obvious reasons.
Pointing to the place where our hockey sticks were stored below and the way up to the dormitories and the entrance to the parlour.
Aahhh!! The famous ground! There used to be a bench separated from the black screen. That house down below and the famous mango tree which for years we enjoyed its fruit. Hope it is still there. I remember sitting on the bench during play times and there were those special days where our 'in-house entertainers would share their experiences and who can forget Mandy telling us the stories from the movies she just watched. She was the queen of Bollywood movie stories, I tell you!
The junior dormitory! And the old chapel where we used to go before examinations especially.
The next 2 pics below is the study room. I remember I used to sit right there next to the door. Sr Maximillia was in charge of study time. And boy was she scary! My side partner was Bibiana at that time.
I was curious if they restored our old piano. Kind of looks like 'the one', only polished.
Looks like Reis Magos fort. Not sure.
This seems to be the new Gera building in Patto, the building near to which I work. Opposite the ongoing construction is still in progress as it is today.
Finally Newtons
Please share your comments, memories or write ups about our school if you like.