It may be shot here based on a story that happened here. But, the Tamil version of Life of Pi, the latest movie from Oscar-award-winning director Ang Lee, has apparently failed to enthuse film buffs in Puducherry when it was released on Friday.
The theatre was half empty for the first three shows and the trend is likely to continue, according to a theatre staff member.
“We have 1,098 seats and nearly half were filled,” an employee of the Raja Theatre told Express.
This lukewarm response comes as a surprise as large portions of the movie were filmed in Pi’s native place Puducherry. Life of Pi is a screen adaptation of Canadian author Yann Martel’s 2001 work by the same name. The adventure drama, shot in 3D, revolves around a perilous voyage that 16-year-old Piscine Molitor Patel (Pi) is literally thrown into following his family’s bid to leave Puducherry during the Emergency. The film depicts Pi’s magic realistic struggle to survive a 227-day journey in the Pacific Ocean onboard a lifeboat, fighting hunger, uncertainty, loneliness and a Royal Bengal tiger.
Muthukumar, who watched the 2.30 pm show felt the second half of the film was a bit of a drag. But he lauded Suraj Sharma’s acting.
Indian actor Sharma (17) played the role of young Pi.
There were a few who were impressed by the visual appeal of Lee’s work. “It is pictured beautifully. We cannot believe that some of the parts shown are Puducherry,” said Jagan, who walked in for a matinee show.
Meanwhile, some movie-goers lamented the fact that the movie was released in Tamil. “I think I missed the real experience by watching the Tamil version,” said Ananda.
As Vijay-starrer Thuppakki continues to score high with the city’s box office, theatre employees seem skeptical about Life of Pi’s success in the Union Territory.