Animated Film Brings Veloso Salgado’s "Vasco da Gama Before the Zamorin of Calicut" to Life with Original Score by Rui Ribeiro

Filmmaker André Miranda and animator Eduardo Caramujo of Corner Studio have transformed Veloso Salgado’s iconic painting Vasco da Gama Before the Zamorin of Calicut into a vibrant 3D animated film. With an original score composed by Rui Ribeiro, the project reimagines one of the most symbolic moments in Portuguese history: Vasco da Gama’s arrival in India and his first encounter with the Zamorin of Calicut. This cinematic reinterpretation is part of the traveling exhibition Vasco da Gama and India, organized by the Portuguese Maritime Museum. Already seen by thousands in cities like Viana do Castelo and Lagos, the exhibition has earned praise from President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and now heads to Sines, the famed explorer’s birthplace.

Rui Ribeiro’s soundtrack follows the emotional arc of the story. It opens with Indian traditional instruments and textures that convey the cultural distance and mystery of the first contact, gradually blending in with Western orchestral elements. The music builds to a heroic climax that reflects Vasco da Gama’s diplomatic ingenuity in the face of uncertainty. “I wanted the music to reflect the initial tension and unfamiliarity of the meeting… and evolve into something that captured Vasco da Gama’s calm strategic thinking, especially since he really had nothing tangible to offer the Zamorin,” explains Ribeiro.

The film’s sound design, crafted by Ricardo Ferreira, adds immersive depth to the experience. From the distant roll of ocean waves to the echo of footsteps and ceremonial whispers, every auditory detail enhances the atmosphere and emotional weight of the scenes.

The original painting by Veloso Salgado, created in the late 19th century to mark the 400th anniversary of the sea route to India, spans over three meters wide and currently hangs in Lisbon’s Geographical Society. Its grand composition portrays the encounter between the Portuguese navigator and the Indian ruler with dramatic flair, filled with ceremonial gravitas and exotic detail. This powerful, symbolic image served as the creative springboard for the animated adaptation, which breathes movement, emotion, and sound into a once-static canvas.

This animated reimagining of Vasco da Gama Before the Zamorin is a striking example of how Portugal’s visual heritage can be revitalized through contemporary mediums like film and music. Blending image and sound, the project shows how history, when told with artistry and emotion, can be more than remembered… It can be felt.