Based on Yann Martel's 2001 novel of the same name, Life of Pi revolves around two survivors of a shipwreck – Pi Patel, a 16-year-old Indian boy, and Richard Parker, a ferocious Royal Bengal tiger. Following a shipwreck, the duo latched onto a lifeboat stranded in the Pacific Ocean for 227 days.
Directed and produced by Ang Lee and written by David Magee, the film stars Suraj Sharma, Irrfan Khan, Rafe Spall, Tabu, and Adil Hussain in lead roles. The film had its world premiere at the 50th New York Film Festival in September 2012 and released across the United States the same day. Along with a huge critical success, Life of Pi became a massive box office success and went on to collect over $609 million gross.
The film also had three Golden Globe Awards nominations including Best Picture – Drama and Best Director, and won a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score. It also had 11 nominations at the 85th Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay, and won four including Best Director for Ang Lee.
On the occasion of Life of Pi turning 10 years old, here’s looking back at the five best moments from one of the greatest cinematic visuals with one of the best VFX.
The Sea Storm
The VFX of Life of Pi was so spellbinding that you will find yourself on the edge of the chair. Unlike most films, Life of Pie hasn’t shown a sea storm in its most cliched form with lightning and thunder. Rather, it shows the scary side of sea storms, where Pi almost slips from the deck, trying to hold on to the handrails and swimming across the flooded corridors to try to save his family. The scene also shows how Pi struggles to sail on a lifeboat amidst the massive waves as the ship submerges in the water.
Richard Parker Meets Young Pi
As Pi shares the lifeboat with Richard Parker, he remembers his first meeting with the tiger in a zoo during his childhood. When he was small, he visited a zoo with his brother Ravi and asked him to help him call the tiger so that he could feed him. As Richard comes near, Pi puts his hand through the bar and holds the meat for the tiger to eat, but Pi’s father quickly comes to the rescue and takes Pi away from the bar before the tiger bites his hand off. Later, he ties a goat with the bar to show Pi how Richard bites off the goat, kills it and drags it away to teach Pi a lesson.
The Lit Up Ocean
The scene in which the fishes are luminescent, lighting up a huge portion of the ocean and a giant whale takes a big leap amidst it makes up for a breathtaking scene.
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Richard & Pi Staring At The Ocean
This scene makes it to the list of our top scenes of Life of Pi. Many days have passed by now when Richard and Pi are living on the lifeboat and in this scene both stare at the ocean together and see each of their loved ones' faces in the water.
Irrfan Khan’s Popular Dialogue
Towards the end of the film, there is a scene where late actor Irrfan Khan has a monologue that has been deeply engraved in our hearts over the years. “I suppose, in the end, the whole life becomes an act of letting go, but what always hurts the most is not taking a moment to say goodbye,” Khan concluded.