PUDUCHERRY: Shooting for Life of Pi, a 3D film from Academy award-winning filmmaker Ang Lee, is progressing in Puducherry. Some groundbreaking techniques are being used to capture the story’s essence, but didn’t Lee miss something in Puducherry? Yes, a zoo that has a special mention in Yann Martel’s book, on which the film is based.
The zoo has a special place in the film, in which Pi’s father is the owner of an exotic zoo. As Puducherry does not have a zoo, some shots were done using animals in the botanical gardens. The rest were created by employing digital techniques. “After the shoot, we will leave behind the infrastructure that were created for the zoo. This will help Puducherry have a real zoo in future,” said Lee at a press conference here.
The onscreen representation of the Booker Prize-winning work is being shot in three parts in India, Taiwan and in the sea. One third of the film has been shot in Puducherry. Two days of shooting was done in Munnar, where the exterior of a church was caught on camera.
Lee said Puducherry has been an unique experience — not to say the churches, Petit Seminaire Higher Secondary School, Calve College, M G Road, canals, the banyan tree at Kizhur. “This is a filmmaker’s dream location. This is a beautiful town with a modest, humble and relaxed attitude,” Lee said. “It is very far away from the world, like in the book. Here we find the origin of humanity and feel its freshness,” the maker of Brokeback Mountain added.
Like in the book, the film is more or less based on the 1950-60 period. But there were some deviations, like bringing in a romantic interest for Pi and his interest in dancing. These elements have been added to make the picture more humane, said Lee. On the other hand, there is no mention of India Coffee House in the film as in the book, though Puducherry still has one. “Culturally, there is nothing controversial in the movie. It is more realistic to Puducherry,” Lee added.
At least 3,000 young men were auditioned for the role of Piscine Molitor “ Pi” Patel, the protagonist of the movie. After extensive talent hunt, Delhi student Suraj Sharma (17) was selected for the role. “I was looking out for a fresh face and not someone from the industry. Sharma is a true talent, though he did not have any prior experience,” said Lee.
Bollywood actor Irfan Khan will play the role of Pi in his adulthood. Tabu is cast as Pi’s mother, while his father would be brought to life by Adil Hussain. Renowned French actor Gerad Depardieu portrays the chef, a character who plays an important role in the story that Pi tells to the Japanese officials in the movie.
Li detailed on the technical and financial challenges in filming in 3D. “This is a very hard book to crack. Technically speaking, this is too big a book,” said Lee. The film will hit the screens on December 14, 2012.