Picture this: A team of five creative visionaries on a quest to turn imagination into reality, armed with nothing but their wits, a sketchbook, and some high-end recording equipment. Sounds like the start of a wild ride, right? Buckle up!
The Great Departure: Hyderabad to Pune
On the night of May 10, 2024, our journey began. We – a director/writer, a concept artist, a 3D animator, and two sound wizards—embarked on a mission to the Sahyadri Hills, Maharashtra. With dreams of creating the perfect game, Maa Kali, we swapped the comforts of a flight for the gritty charm of a bus ride to Pune. Why? Because we’re not just game developers, we’re adventurers on a budget!
With Sennheiser mics, Tascam, cameras, and sketchbooks in hand, we boarded our overnight bus. Eleven hours later, we stumbled into Pune, bleary-eyed and extremely hungry. But Pune welcomed us with open arms and delicious breakfast.
Our team finally tasted the mythical “vegetarian omelet” and enjoyed a juice named Ganga Jamuna—hilarity – ensued, as expected.
Fuelled by food and excitement, we knew our adventure was off to a hilarious and unforgettable start.
Pune to Ellora: The Scenic Detour
Post Breakfast, we freshened up a bit at the restaurant (which mostly involved splashing water on our faces and pretending we were fancy), we embarked on our journey to Ellora. Let me tell you, if you ever head towards Maharashtra, Ellora is a must-visit. The mountain ranges are so STUNNING!
We stopped at some beautiful spots along the way to capture the scenic beauty for our game. Our concept artist was sketching furiously, and our animator was clicking away like a tourist on their first trip to the mountains.
Throughout the journey, we discussed some action plans and, of course, hunted for sugar cane juice stands like they were legendary treasure chests in our game. By the time we reached Hotel Annapurna near Ellora, we had no idea how the journey had flown by. One minute we were marvelled at the scenery, and the next, it was already evening. Time flies when you’re having fun and brainstorming about video games!
Day One: The Early Bird Gets the… Snake?
Despite not being morning people, we all rose at 5:30 AM on May 12. Because who wouldn’t want to record the melodious morning bird chirps and spot a dangerous snake first thing in the morning? Our director, in his infinite wisdom, quipped, “If a snake decides to make us its morning snack, well, there’s no antidote nearby, folks! So, let’s save the drama for Hyderabad!” – a little humour to kickstart the day.
First stop: Grishneshwar, one of the Jyotirlingas. Picture us capturing the serene temple vibes (Phones and other electronics were not allowed 🙁 , understanding local customs, and yes, starting our day with blessings.
But the real fun began on a perfectly arched forest road where, we hit pause, for almost an hour… our sound guys recorded some frog croaks and some playful chatter of langurs, our concept artist was off in la-la land with his sketches, and our director and animator made friends with locals and trekkers, multitasking between gathering textures and socializing.
Ellora Caves: A Symphony of Rocks and Bats
We soaked in the ancient ambiance of the Ellora Caves where we gently touched the rock structures, listened to the stories carved in stone, and even had a local guide lead us to a restricted cave. The echoing bat sounds and hidden staircases added an eerie yet exciting touch to our research.
The curious locals were so intrigued by our work that we shared a teaser of the game, earning some instant fans. After hours of exploring, we set off towards Karjat, but got sidetracked by another Jyothirlinga.
Nasik: The Unexpected Temple Marathon
Nasik’s temple was an adventure on its own. Four hours into the queue, we got pushed, pulled, tossed and practically pickpocketed (just kidding). We even considered a special queue by paying 200 bucks, just to realise the pushing was more efficient there 😀 . Finally, after hours of testing our patience, we got a fractional glimpse of the divine, which left us spiritually enlightened and physically ravenous.
So, where do a group of exhausted but adventurous souls go after a temple ordeal? Straight to the nearest local food joint, of course! Vada pavs, ragi rotis, and curries galore—our stomachs were stretched to the limit, but our hearts were full.
As night fell, we embarked on the spookiest journey yet: A dark, forest road to Karjat. Dashboard lights flickering like they were auditioning for a role in a horror movie, fuel gauge flirting dangerously with “empty,” and a desperate hunt for a petrol station that seemed to be playing hide-and-seek with us. But hey, despite the atmosphere, we made it through the wilderness, welcomed at our destination by two furry friends who instantly became our loyal companions. Who needs ghost stories when you’ve got real-life adventures like these, right?
The Smoothest Day Ever: May 13, 2024
After the wild adventures of the previous day, we awoke on May 13th to the sight of our director already meditating. His calmness was infectious, setting the tone for what would be our smoothest day yet.
The sound team, ever the early birds (pun intended), had their equipment ready and were off to record the local wildlife. The rest of us took a more leisure pace, with a relaxed poolside meeting to discuss the day’s action plan. Nothing beats poolside meeting, right? with our feet dangling in the waters.
Fuelled by a breakfast of vada pav and poha, we ventured into a nearby village. The place was alive with sounds: cattle bells, human chatter, and the rustling of leaves. Our sound artists were in heaven, capturing every nuance. Meanwhile, the concept artist sketched the rustic beauty of village life, translating the essence into our game world and our animator/3D artist capturing all the textures.
After an intense morning, we thought of taking a well-deserved power nap but by then the weather turned breezy, with clouds draping the hills like a cozy blanket. Our sound team started recording the whistling wind and the nuances of the nature around.
Then came the highlight: Swimming in the rain! Yes, it started raining with a bit of hail, and we immediately jumped into the pool like kids. We played dog and the bone, had pool races, and even tried some underwater shots. Two hours later, shivering and slightly cold, we emerged victorious and ready for the next adventure.
However, the rest of the day posed a unique challenge — it was the local election day. With restaurants closed and political parties bustling around, we had to navigate carefully, given the attention we are garnering with our equipment. Our hunger pangs led us to a sympathetic eatery owner who opened just for us. We ate like kings and wrapped up with a sync-up meeting for the final day of our research.
The Grand Finale: May 14, 2024
Our last day was nothing short of an epic. We rushed to Thakurwadi, the heart of our game’s storyline.
On our way, we recorded the most soothing water sounds — think flowing streams and rowing boats. It was like an ASMR session for game developers. We even spotted a few snakes… by now, we were seasoned adventurers so passed by the snakes as if nothing is there.
By midday, it was hitting nearly above 40 degrees. Our director’s humour kept our spirits high by joking, “Hardly we die in this heat, right?” We reached Thakurwadi, a picturesque village, and got to work. Every nook and corner, every texture of huts and shops was captured, thanks to the friendly locals who welcomed us with open arms.
Then came the ultimate challenge: A hike to a nearby cave. “Just 750 meters,” they said. “Piece of cake,” they said. Reality? An uphill trek that felt like a never-ending obstacle course. With no proper breakfast and our water supplies accidentally spilled, it was like an episode of Man vs. Wild.
Despite the odds, we reached the cave. Few locals, seeing our struggle to go up, offered us water—truly a divine intervention. Inside the cave, the sound team recorded every drip of water and echoing footstep, while the director collected the dripping water from the cave for nearly 45 mins, adds more essence to the story. Our artist added final touches to his concepts, inspired by the cave’s tranquility.
The down hill was mercifully easy. Our director’s strict “no stopping” rule was a godsend, and we reached the bottom quickly. Exhausted but elated, we indulged in a hearty meal before heading to the Pune railway station.
As we sat on the platform, waiting for our train back to Hyderabad, we reflected on our journey. It had been hectic, hilarious, and heartwarming. Every challenge we faced and every laugh we shared would forever be a part of Maa Kali.
This blissful, chaotic adventure wasn’t just research; it was the soul of our game. We returned home, tired but triumphant, ready to bring the magic of the Sahyadri Hills to life. Stay tuned, for Maa Kali is coming, and it’s going to be epic! And also stay tuned for another research coming this July.
