Nikhil & Jay

Descriptive Transcript

[Upbeat introduction music]

DESCRIPTION: Two brothers open the front door of their home. The older brother, Nikhil, has brown hair and wears a red hoodie with a dinosaur emblem. The younger brother, Jay, has brown hair and wears a blue-and-green sweater.

NIKHIL: Hi, I'm Nikhil.

JAY: And I'm Jay!

NIKHIL: Here's a little story about where our family's from.

DESCRIPTION: Nikhil pulls down a map. Illustrations of their mother, Amma, and their father, Appa, appear. Amma has brown hair and wears orange glasses. Appa has brown hair and a brown beard.

BROTHERS [singing]: It starts in South India with Amma, our mom. She caught a plane to England and met our dad, Appa!

DESCRIPTION: Appa and Amma dance side by side while Appa holds a cup of tea. Amma wears a blue top with orange pants. Appa wears a red quarter-zip sweater and blue pants.

[singing]

BROTHERS: She loves to dance and he makes the best cuppa!

DESCRIPTION: Nikhil and Jay dance together and with their parents.

[singing]

BROTHERS: Oh! And then we came along. Oh! And this is our song. Oh-oh, Nikhil and Jay! Oh-oh Nikhil and Jay!

[singing]

JAY: Nikhil likes… Missions!

[singing]

NIKHIL: Jay likes… Being loud!

[singing]

BROTHERS: We both love to dream!

DESCRIPTION: Miniature versions of Nikhil and Jay play on a carrom board. The brothers fly through the sky in a rocket ship.

[singing]

BROTHERS: We can shoot a carrom pocket! Yeah, or blast off in a rocket! We make the greatest team.

NIKHIL: Wait.

JAY: What!?

DESCRIPTION: Nikhil and Jay hold up a tablet, displaying a video call with their grandparents, Ammamma and Thatha. Ammamma is wearing an orange-and-blue sari, and Thatha is wearing a beige shirt, with glasses hanging around his neck. Behind Nikhil and Jay are their other set of grandparents, Jim and Nana. Jim has gray hair and wears a green shirt. He is holding a plate of food. Nana has gray hair and wears a yellow high-visibility jacket. She is holding a crossing guard sign.

[singing]

BROTHERS: There's Ammamma and Thatha! And Jim and Nana! And don't forget Max the cat!

DESCRIPTION: An orange cat licks his paw. The whole family dances together.

[Max meowing]

[singing]

FAMILY: Oh-oh, Nikhil and Jay! Oh-oh, Nikhil and Jay, Oh-oh, Nikhil and Jay, Oh-oh, Nikhil and Jay!

[Upbeat music ends]

[Opening credits] “BBC”.

[Title] “Nikhil & Jay.”

[Credits continue] “Based on the books by Chitra Soundar.”

DESCRIPTION: Jay reads out the episode title.

[Episode title] “Nikhil & Jay and the Deepavali Fireworks.”

[Credits continue] “Series Director: Jamie Teehan. Director: Nandita Jain. Written by: Chitra Soundar.”

DESCRIPTION: Colourful tablecloths, brightly coloured pillows, and lines of bunting decorate the house. Nikhil and Jay chase each other around the dining table. They imagine fireworks exploding around them. Nikhil wears a red kurta with gold embroidery, and Jay wears a dark green kurta with gold embroidery. When the brothers mention fireworks, Max jumps into a cardboard box and hides.

[Both giggling]

NIKHIL: Deepavali fireworks coming through! Whoosh!

[Max meowing]

JAY: I'm a spinning Vishnu wheel. Oof! Huh?

DESCRIPTION: Jay bumps into Appa, who is tangled in a line of bunting. Appa wears a dark blue kurta with gold embroidery.

APPA: Watch out!

DESCRIPTION: Amma comes out of the kitchen. She wears an orange sari and holds a plate of laddus.

AMMA: Laddus coming through. Got extra for Jim.

NIKHIL: Happy Deepavali, Amma! Ooh! Whee!

AMMA: Oh! One laddu for whoever can tell me what Deepavali means.

JAY: We get to do fireworks!

AMMA: Yes, but what does it mean?

APPA: Oh, I know! It's the Festival of Lights. Laddu?

AMMA: I was doing a game for the kids.

APPA: And I really want a laddu!

[Amma sighing]

JAY: Ooh, and 'deepa' means 'lamp'.

DESCRIPTION: Jay imagines a small, orange lamp.

NIKHIL: And 'vali' means 'line'. So, a line of lamps.

DESCRIPTION: Nikhil and Jay imagine a line of small, orange lamps.

BROTHERS: Laddu?

AMMA: Ding-ding-ding! Laddus all round!

BROTHERS: Yeah!

DESCRIPTION: Jay and Nikhil each take a laddu. They smile as they eat.

[Amma chuckling]

[Max meowing]

AMMA: Oh! Right, quiz over. We've got a Deepavali party to get ready!

DESCRIPTION: Amma reaches into the cardboard box on the dining table where Max is hiding. She grabs two kolam rollers from the box.

[Max meowing]

AMMA: First, we'll do the kolam patterns.

[Nikhil gasping]

NIKHIL: We get to roll rice flour on the floor without getting told off!

JAY: And after patterns on the floor, we can watch patterns in the sky!

DESCRIPTION: Jay imagines fireworks exploding around him.

JAY: Firework time! Boom, boom! Deepavali!

BROTHERS: Yeah! Woohoo!

DESCRIPTION: Jay and Nikhil run around the living room. Max’s eyes widen, and she runs off.

[Max meowing]

[Both laughing]

[Max meowing]

[Doorbell ringing]

DESCRIPTION: As the doorbell rings, Appa and Amma hear Nana call from outside.

NANA: We're here!

APPA: Oh, that'll be Nana and Jim. Oh!

DESCRIPTION: Appa is tangled in a line of bunting.

AMMA: I'll get it. You seem a little "tied up" right now. Oh!

DESCRIPTION: Nikhil and Jay run to the front door. Nana and Jim stand on the front porch. Nana wears a blue floral dress and red glasses, and Jim wears a green shirt and khakis.

BROTHERS: Nana and Jim! Yay!

NANA: Happy Deepavali!

NIKHIL: Yay!

JAY: Yay!

DESCRIPTION: Nana hugs Nikhil and Jay.

NANA: Nana plus huggle equals...

ALL: Nuggle time!

DESCRIPTION: Jim wraps his arms around Nana, Nikhil, and Jay.

JIM: 'Ey, Jim plus huggle equals juggle time!

[All laughing]

DESCRIPTION: Nikhil and Jay lead Nana and Jay into the kitchen.

JAY: Now, everyone's here, we can do fireworks!

DESCRIPTION: Jay imagines fireworks exploding around him. Max scrunches her face and jumps onto the table, then hides in a cardboard box.

[Max meowing]

DESCRIPTION: Amma holds two kolam rollers.

AMMA: Very soon, chellam. But first, we have to finish the bunting and kolam, and then… boom, boom, Deepavali!

NIKHIL AND JAY: Yes!

[All laughing]

DESCRIPTION: Amma chases Jay and Nikhil through the kitchen. Jim turns and sees the plate full of laddus.

JIM: Oh.

[Gasping]

DESCRIPTION: Jim gapes at the laddus and reaches for one.

JIM: Oh… Laddus! Mmm… Oh…

DESCRIPTION: Nana steps in and stops Jim’s reach.

NANA: No-no-no-no-no! If you start now, there'll be none left. Besides, the bunting needs your help.

DESCRIPTION: Nana gestures at Appa, who is tangled in a line of bunting.

JIM: He's called 'Appa', not 'The Bunting'.

DESCRIPTION: A little while later, Amma and Nana do kolam together. They roll rice powder onto the kitchen floor in intricate, swirly patterns.

[Amma chuckling]

AMMA: Great choices, Nana.

DESCRIPTION: Just then, Nikhil and Jay run into the kitchen. Nana stops them.

BROTHERS: Our turn!

NANA: Whoa-whoa-whoa! Stop right there!

BOTH: Huh? Sorry, Nana.

NANA: Before you kolam, remember this important rule - the swirliest pattern wins! Now, kiddos, you can go!

BROTHERS: Wow! Wow!

[Nana chuckling]

NIKHIL: Mission swirliest pattern is go-go-go!

DESCRIPTION: A little while later, Nikhil and Jay are on their knees, rolling kolam onto the kitchen floor.

JAY: Swirliest pattern ever, ever, ever!

[Jay laughing]

DESCRIPTION: In Jay’s imagination, he pictures himself sliding across life-sized lines of kolam.

JAY: Woo-hoo! Whee! Yeah!

[Jay laughing]

DESCRIPTION: Jay imagines fireworks exploding around him.

JAY: Yeah! Yeah! Mm...

[Jay gasping]

DESCRIPTION: Jay slides in circles around massive kolam patterns.

JAY: Wow! Oh-ho-ho! Wow! Ooh…

DESCRIPTION: In reality, Jay looks at his kolam pattern on the kitchen floor.

[Jay gasps]

NIKHIL: Wow! I think you definitely win the swirliest kolam, Jay.

DESCRIPTION: Everyone gathers around to see Jay’s kolam. Everyone smiles.

APPA: Yes! Bunting is up!

DESCRIPTION: Appa points to the ceiling, which is now lined in colourful bunting.

AMMA: Kolam is down.

DESCRIPTION: Amma gestures to the kitchen floor, which is painted with four kolams, drawn by Nikhil, Jay, Nana, and Amma.

NANA: So, that means it's time for...

JIM: Laddus!

DESCRIPTION: Jay is holding Max.

BROTHERS: And fireworks!

[Max meowing]

DESCRIPTION: Max’s eyes widen, and she jumps out of Jay’s arms. She runs through the kitchen, ruining the kolam. Max jumps up the wall and tears down all the bunting.

JAY: Aah! Huh?

[Max meowing]

[Max yowling]

NIKHIL AND JAY: Max! No! Aah!

DESCRIPTION: Amma and Appa look around the room. The bunting is on the ground, and the kolam is just a pile of rice flour.

APPA: What-- What just happened?

AMMA: Ayooo! It's a Deepavali disaster.

JAY: Does that mean no fireworks?

DESCRIPTION: Max hides in the cardboard box.

[Max meowing]

DESCRIPTION: Nikhil and Jay sit down next to Max.

NIKHIL: Are you okay, Max?

[Max meowing]

NIKHIL: I think she's sad.

JAY: Oh, poor Max.

APPA: Come on, it's Deepavali, the Festival of Lights, not the Festival of Gloomy Faces. Let's get this show back on the road.

JIM: I'll– I'll get the laddus, shall I?

NANA: Jim! You and your laddus!

[Max meowing]

JAY: But what about Max?

NIKHIL: Hmm. How can we cheer Max up?

DESCRIPTION: In Nikhil’s imagination, he pictures ways to help cheer up Max.

NIKHIL: Dancing.

DESCRIPTION: Nikhil dances next to Max, who continues to hide in her box.

[Max meowing]

NIKHIL: Nope. Hmm…

DESCRIPTION: Nikhil swings on a tire swing.

NIKHIL: Swinging! Whee!

DESCRIPTION: Max continues to hide.

[Max meowing]

NIKHIL: Nuh-uh. Oh, maybe something a bit more calm.

DESCRIPTION: Nikhil sits down next to the box and meditates.

NIKHIL: Breathe in…

DESCRIPTION: Max gets out of the box and sits down next to Nikhil.

NIKHIL: and out. Breathe in... and out.

[Inhaling sharply]

[Exhaling sharply]

[Purring]

DESCRIPTION: Back in reality.

NIKHIL: Ahh… Actually, Max needs some calm time. Mission calm Cat Time is go, go-- oops.

DESCRIPTION: Nikhil looks at Max.

NIKHIL [quietly]: Go.

DESCRIPTION: A little bit later, in the brother’s bedroom. Nikhil meditates next to Max, who is curled into a ball on a cat bed. Jay runs around them, playing the flute. Nikhil opens one eye to look at Jay, then continues meditating.

[Playing flute]

DESCRIPTION: Nikhil gently pets Max. She stretches out her paws and smiles.

NIKHIL: Enjoy your calm cat time, Max.

[Purring]

[Playing flute]

DESCRIPTION: Nikhil and Jay return to the living room. Appa has hung all the bunting back up, and Amma and Nana have drawn more kolam. Jim stares longingly at the laddus.

[Appa humming]

[Brothers gasping]

BROTHERS: Wow! Whoa!

AMMA AND NANA: Yes! Yeah!

JAY: So, now we can whizz, crackle, pop!

AMMA: Nuh-uh. First, can you spy with your two little eyes if everyone's here yet?

DESCRIPTION: Jay points to each person in the room. They all smile.

JAY: I spy Amma, Appa, Nana, Jim… Nikhil and me! Everyone's here.

AMMA: Not everyone.

DESCRIPTION: A little bit later, Ammamma and Thatha appear in a video call. Everyone gathers around the tablet on the kitchen counter.

AMMAMMA: Hey, kutties.

THATHA: Hello, everyone. Cooey!

[Ammamma singing in Hindi]

JAY: Yay! Amma, Appa, Nana, Jim, Nikhil, me, Ammamma and Thatha! Everyone's here!

THATHA: Hey, then let's say, "Boom, boom, Deepavali," on one, two…

DESCRIPTION: Suddenly, Nikhil’s eyes widen.

NIKHIL: Wait! Not everyone's here.

[Jay gasping]

JAY: Max isn't here!

AMMA: Oh. Hmm. That's because she's having some quiet time away from the kolam and the bunting...

JIM: And the laddus!

NANA: Jim!

NIKHIL: But it doesn't feel right without Max.

JAY: Especially not the fireworks.

DESCRIPTION: Nikhil thinks to himself.

NIKHIL: Fireworks…

DESCRIPTION: In Nikhil’s imagination, he thinks back to earlier in the day. In black-and-white memories, Jay and Nikhil run around the kitchen, and Max hides.

[Memory]

NIKHIL: Deepavali fireworks coming through!

[Memory]

JAY: We can do fireworks!

[Max meowing]

[Memory]

BROTHERS: Fireworks!

[Max meowing]

DESCRIPTION: In the present, Nikhil stands with his family in the kitchen.

[Nikhil gasps]

NIKHIL: Max ran away every time we mentioned the fireworks.

JAY: Oh, no! Max is scared of the Deepavali fireworks. Poor Max.

NIKHIL: Maybe she won't be scared if we stay close to her.

AMMA: Hmm, not sure that's going to work.

NIKHIL: Come on, Jay, let's go!

JAY: Oh!

DESCRIPTION: Later, Nikhil and Jay hold Max. The family gathers around the tablet in the kitchen.

[Max meowing]

NIKHIL: We're right here with you, Max.

THATHA: So, everyone's here now? Super! Let's go on three. One, two, three.

ALL: Boom, boom, Deepavali!

[Max meowing]

DESCRIPTION: Max’s eyes widen.

[Yowling]

DESCRIPTION: Max jumps out of the brother’s arms. She knocks over the tablet and runs into the kitchen. Max slides through the kitchen's kolam patterns.

NIKHIL: Oh, no, I don't think staying close to Max is helping, either.

JAY: So, no fireworks this Deepavali.

ALL: Oh…

[Amma gasping]

AMMA: Look at the kolam!

[Everyone gasping]

[Dramatic music]

DESCRIPTION: Everyone looks at the kolam. It is no longer in its original pattern now that Max has slid through it.

NIKHIL: It's all swirly and swishy, like...

JAY: Fireworks!

NIKHIL: Maybe we can do fireworks without scaring Max.

ALL: Huh?

DESCRIPTION: Later, Nikhil and Jay are on the kitchen floor. The brothers are using kolam rollers to paint swirly patterns in rice flour, mimicking the shapes of fireworks.

NIKHIL: Kolam fireworks!

JAY: Some whoosh here, some rockets there! Vishnu wheel! Whoosh!

APPA: Oh, that's nice.

JIM: Let's have a go, then.

JAY: Okay.

DESCRIPTION: Jim uses a kolam roller to paint a curved line across the kitchen floor.

BOTH: Whoosh!

[All whooping and laughing]

NIKHIL: Yeah!

JIM: Zoom!

DESCRIPTION: Nana kneels on the kitchen floor and gestures for Max.

NANA: Come on, Max.

[Max meowing]

DESCRIPTION: With a smile, Max tiptoes across the kolam, creating a polka dot pattern. Then Max belly-flops, creating an explosion design.

ALL: Yay!

DESCRIPTION: Later, Amma holds up the plate of laddus.

AMMA: Laddu time!

JIM: Oh, I thought you'd never ask. Oh…

[Jim chuckling]

DESCRIPTION: Jim takes a laddu, then Appa steals it from him with a smile.

JIM: Huh? Hey!

APPA: Hey, I'm owed one!

JIM: Oh!

DESCRIPTION: Appa presses the ‘on’ button on a speaker.

[Beeping]

[Disco music playing]

JIM: He-hey!

DESCRIPTION: Nana dances through the room, takes Jim’s hand, and leads him to dance before he can take a laddu.

NANA: Wahey! Deepavali disco!

DESCRIPTION: Everyone dances.

[Nana humming]

NIKHIL: Yeah!

[Max meowing]

JAY: Yeah!

[Ammamma and Thatha laughing]

AMMA: Happy Deepavali, everyone.

ALL: Happy Deepavali!

[Max meowing]

JIM: Oh, me laddus.

DESCRIPTION: Jim tries to take a laddu, but trips on the carrom board and knocks the laddu plate out of Amma’s hand. The laddus fly into the air.

JIM: Ooh! Aah! Oh!

DESCRIPTION: Jim grabs the plate and catches every laddu before they hit the ground.

JIM: Oh! Oh! Ohh! Ha-ha!

DESCRIPTION: Jim finally takes a laddu and eats it. He smiles.

JIM: Mmm...

NANA: Oh, Jim, what are you like?

[All laughing]

[Upbeat music]

[End Credits] “Cast. Nikhil: Shiv Senthilkumar, Jay: Sai Ganesh Nadesan, Amma: Charithra Chandran, Appa: Ben Harris, Mr. Awan: Tez Ilyas, Max: Harriet Carmichael. Casting: Brilliant Casting. Additional Voice Direction: Jessica Hann. Composers: Sidh Solanki & Shridhar Solanki. Lead Storyboard Artist: Rosie Cash. Storyboard Artist: Sophie Osinski. Script Editor: Becky Overton. Produced with funding from the Northern Ireland Screen & Cake. King Banana, Paper Owl Films for BBC. An Albert Certified Production.”