Velho Chico (English title: Old River) is a Brazilian telenovela produced and broadcast by TV Globo from 14 March 2016 to 30 September 2016.

Directed by Luiz Fernando Carvalho and co-directed by Carlos Araújo, Gustavo Fernandez, Antônio Karnewale and Philipe Barcinski.

Starring Antonio Fagundes, Camila Pitanga, Domingos Montagner, Rodrigo Santoro, Selma Egrei, Tarcísio Meira in the lead roles.

And Rodrigo Lombardi, Fabiula Nascimento, Chico Díaz, Christiane Torloni, Marcos Palmeira, Dira Paes, Irandhir Santos, Gabriel Leone, Giullia Buscacio, Lucy Alves in supporting roles.

[9][10][11][12][13][14][15] In 2009, Benedito Ruy Barbosa submitted to Rede Globo the synopsis of possible telenovela set at the São Francisco River but after evaluation by the network, the story was considered too political.

[20][21][22][23] Although set in Bahia, part of the early scenes were recorded in other locations of the Brazil's Northeast like: Baraúna in Rio Grande do Norte, São José da Tapera and Olho d'Água do Casado in Alagoas.

Ilha de Cajaíba, in São Francisco do Conde, the municipality of Cachoeira and Raso da Catarina were also used as locations.

[29] Passing through tissue discoloration, dyeing and natural aging, the costumes of the bushmen are made in pastel colors, while those from Salvador are inspired by Tropicália.

[39] Letícia Sabatella was also considered to play Maria Tereza but due to her other commitments in films and theatre, Camila Pitanga was cast.

[40][41] Veteran actor Umberto Magnani, who played Father Romão, suffered a stroke (CVA) while preparing to record in the afternoon of 25 April 2016 at Projac.

With the confirmation of the actor's death, the technical team and the cast that were recording in the Northeast were asked to return to Rio de Janeiro.

[51] According to reports the Legal Medical Institute (IML) of Sergipe, the result of the autopsy performed Montagner's body pointed out that the actor died of mechanical asphyxia by drowning.

[60][61][62] Weeks prior to the casualty, Rede Globo aired a scene where Santo would be saved by Indians, who found him unconscious floating on the São Francisco River, having been shot by his enemy.

[63] Described by the director as a Shakespearian family saga, counting a history of love framed for social critics, the plot is initiated in the end of the year 1960, when Afrânio, son of a powerful Colonel Jacinto is obliged to return from Salvador for the fictitious Grotas de São Francisco, to assume the place of his father, who commanded the politics and the local economy.

He develops a passion for Iolanda, but to oblige his mother, Encarnação, who still grieves the loss of her oldest son who died in waters of the São Francisco River, Afrânio leaves on a trip for the region to reaffirm alliances that his father kept.

[110][111] The first chapter of the Velho Chico, according to consolidated data of São Paulo, registered 35.4 points with a maximum of 37, achieving the highest ratings for a premiere of the 9pm telenovela since Amor à Vida (2013).

[116] The last episode registered a viewership rating of 35.2 points in Greater São Paulo, one of the lowest indices in a 9pm telenovela coming after Babilônia.