ITV

Tag: Life of Pi

  • Life of Pi works its magic; SOS battles it out

    Life of Pi works its magic; SOS battles it out

    MUMBAI: Hollywood director Ang Lee‘s Life Of Pi did well at the elite multiplexes in metros in its opening weekend collecting Rs 136.5 million.

    Yash Chopra‘s last directorial venture Jab Tak Hai Jaan seems to have made the most of the post Diwali holidays, especially at the multiplexes to complete its ten-day first week with Rs 984.1 million. The collections, however, tapered down from Monday (Rs 53.6 million on Monday and Rs 35.4 million on Thursday). The film collected Rs 113 million in its second weekend as the shows were reduced at most screens.

    Ajay Devgn-starrer Son Of Sardar, which had been deprived of the better patronised single screens, went on to collect Rs 812 million in its first ten-day week.

    1920 – Evil Returns could not sustain in front of two major releases despite Diwali holidays.

    Student Of The Year added about Rs one million in its fifth week to take its total tally to Rs 609 million.

  • Life of Pi works its magic; SOS battles it out

    Life of Pi works its magic; SOS battles it out

    MUMBAI: Hollywood director Ang Lee‘s Life Of Pi did well at the elite multiplexes in metros in its opening weekend collecting Rs 136.5 million.

    Yash Chopra‘s last directorial venture Jab Tak Hai Jaan seems to have made the most of the post Diwali holidays, especially at the multiplexes to complete its ten-day first week with Rs 984.1 million. The collections, however, tapered down from Monday (Rs 53.6 million on Monday and Rs 35.4 million on Thursday). The film collected Rs 113 million in its second weekend as the shows were reduced at most screens.

    Ajay Devgn-starrer Son Of Sardar, which had been deprived of the better patronised single screens, went on to collect Rs 812 million in its first ten-day week.

    1920 – Evil Returns could not sustain in front of two major releases despite Diwali holidays.

    Student Of The Year added about Rs one million in its fifth week to take its total tally to Rs 609 million.

  • Life of Pi: A gripping tale finely executed

    Life of Pi: A gripping tale finely executed

    MUMBAI: When Ang Lee (Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Brokeback Mountain) helms a film, the least you can expect from him is a saga with insights and with his newest film Life of Pi, he doesn‘t disappoint. He takes the seemingly impossible-to-film book, written by Yann Martel, and transforms it into a visual delight with 3D and CGI thrown in for good effect. Not since Avatar have these two been used with better results though 3D has since gone on to be a widely used filmmaking tool.

    Life of Pi seeks to encompass a wide array of emotions and situations and succeeds in all of them. The result is a film about finding faith, the triumph of human endeavour, coming of age and childlike delight all seamlessly woven together without missing a beat. And, considering that most of the film has only one boy and a tiger adrift on the Pacific Ocean on a life boat, that is saying a lot. Even the otherwise overused ‘voiceover‘ tool is so well used it becomes unnoticeable.

    It is the story of a young boy, Pi, and his family moving bag and baggage and a hold full of zoo animals from Puducherry to North Amerca on a ship. When the ship sinks in a storm, Pi and a handful of animals are the only survivors. The ménage of animals is gradually reduced to only Richard Parker, the tiger. How Pi manages to tame the wild beast to form an uneasy and easily broken truce, gives the thrust to the film. It is almost impossible to believe that the tiger is largely CG though for some scenes Bengal tigers were used for reference.

    But alone on the ocean, Pi‘s mind wanders and as the director takes you through some of the fantasy he experiences, the viewer gasps in delight at the sheer beauty of the imagination. With the physical and the metaphysical so well blending into each other it‘s almost impossible to tell the difference between the two. Truly, suspension of disbelief was never more rewarding.

    Some debuts are just meant to happen and such is the case with young Pi, Suraj Sharma, who is entirely believable and will be a talent to watch for in the coming years. While Irrfan Khan and Tabu, in short roles are as competent as they are expected to be, Adil Hussain, as Pi‘s father caps his unconventional career with another brilliant performance.

    But, of course, this is Ang Lee‘s film, one of the best directors of contemporary times.

  • Life of Pi to premier in India at IFFI 2012

    Life of Pi to premier in India at IFFI 2012

    New Delhi: The Central and Goa Governments have allocated a budget of Rs 90 million for the 43rd International Film Festival of India which will be inaugurated by versatile actor Akshay Kumar.

    The festival being held from 20 to 30 November will have the Indian premiere of Academy Award Winning Director Ang Lee‘s much awaited film ‘Life of Pi‘. The film‘s worldwide theatrical release is slated for November 23.

    Eminent Polish film maker Krzysztof Zanussi, will be conferred the Life Time Achievement Award at the Festival, which this year will have a special Centenary Award which will be decided by an independent jury.

    The inauguration will feature a medley choreographed by Maestro Saroj Khan and songs sung by Kailash Kher. Kher said he will be performing only on the Hindi film songs, keeping in view the celebration of 100 years of cinema.

    Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari has said the Centre will work towards making the forthcoming International Film Festival of India (IFFI) Goa a self sustainable event.

    Speaking over the weekend in Panaji, he said the Ministry will work towards this goal after the conclusion of IFFI 2012. The premier Festival is currently being financed by the Union and Goa government.

    “I agree with the spirit (that festival should be self sustainable). There is road to travel. Once we are through with this festival, we will see how possibly can make this happen,” the Minister said.

    Since the time IFFI moved to Goa as a permanent venue in 2004, efforts have been made to ensure that it is made self sustainable.

    The Taiwanese born American Director Ang Lee and the cast and crew of the film that includes Tabu, Irrfan Khan and the main lead and debutante Suraj Sharma will be present.

    The ‘Life of Pi‘ which is based on an adapted screenplay of a novel by the same name by Yann Martel, is a 3D adventure film telling the story of a 16 year old Piscine Molitor Patel (Pi) of Pondicherry (Puducheri), who survives a shipwreck along with animals like an orangutan, a zebra, a hyena and a Royal Bengal Tiger. The film explores the issues of spirituality, religion and life as a whole.

    Ang Lee is the man behind some of the most prestigious and acclaimed films such as Sense and Sensibility (1995), Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), Hulk (2003) and Brokeback Mountain (2005). His latest film, Life of Pi, besides providing a global platform for Indian artistes, also explores some of the scenic spots in India, including the countryside of Munnar and the French elegance of Pondicherry. During his interaction with the media, Ang Lee admitted that experiments like his are helping change the stereotype perceptions about Indians and the Asians in mainstream Hollywood.

  • Life of Pi would have been incomplete without 3D: Ang Lee

    Life of Pi would have been incomplete without 3D: Ang Lee

    MUMBAI: Director Ang Lee has said that his latest offering Life of Pi would have been incomplete had it not been in 3D format.
    “It may have been cheap in 2D, but the output would‘ve been unsatisfactory. Thanks to 3D, I managed to take this film beyond imagination and new possibilities,” Lee said when promoting his film.
    To be released on 21 November, the film is based on the novel of the same name by Canadian writer Yann Martel. Its story tells the tale of a young boy named Pi, who is the only person to survive a sinking cargo ship. He finds himself on a lifeboat with a hyena, a zebra, an orangutan, and a Bengal tiger.
    Delhi-based Indian boy Suraj Sharma plays young Pi in the film while Tabu and Irrfan Khan feature in key roles.

  • Life Of Pi to release in over 300 3D screens in India

    Life Of Pi to release in over 300 3D screens in India

    MUMBAI: Ang Lee‘s Life Of Pi will have a wide a release as any other Hollywood film in India encompassing more than 300 3D screens across the country.

    According to Fox Star Studios CEO Vijay Singh, the film will also be dubbed in various Indian languages including Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu.

    Though he did not specify the total number of screens and locations, it is indicated that the film might be released in more than 800 screens making it the widest ever release of a Hollywood film with a debutant Indian actor in the lead.

    Life Of Pi is based on an adapted screenplay of a best-selling novel by Yann Martel of the same name, is being promoted as an adventure film and a 3D visual extravaganza that tells the story of a 16-year-old Piscine Molitor Patel (Pi) of Pondicherry who survives a shipwreck along with animals like an orangutan, a zebra, a hyena and a Royal Bengal Tiger.

    The film metaphorically explores the issues of spirituality, religion and life and has been hailed as one of the most important films of the year by well-known international critics. It is expected to be in the race for the Oscars in 2013.

    The film, the worldwide theatrical release of which is slated for 23 November, stars Irrfan Khan, Tabu, Suraj Sharma, Adil Hussain and Gerard Depardieu.

    It had its world premiere at the New York Film Festival some time back and is also the opening film at the International Film Festival of India, Goa (IFFI, Goa) this year where Ang Lee presented a curtain raiser of his film to the media and a select gathering of Bollywood celebrities.

  • Oscar winning director Ang Lee to visit India for ‘Life Of Pi’

    Oscar winning director Ang Lee to visit India for ‘Life Of Pi’

    NEW DELHI: Academy Award Winning Director Ang Lee is coming to India as part of a grand promotional tour for 20th Century Fox’s Oscar buzz generating festive release ‘Life Of Pi’ directed by him.

    Fox Star Studios have earlier hosted eminent personalities such as Danny Boyle, Hugh Jackman and Titanic‘s Jon Landau in India.

    India will be the first country to be visited by Lee – the film has an Indian angle since it stars Suraj Sharma, Tabu and Irrfan Khan.

    Lee will also be presenting exclusive and unseen 20 minutes of the film in stunning 3D to media and prominent Bollywood personalities to showcase the extraordinary experience of watching the celebrated novel come to life onscreen.

    The man behind some of the most prestigious and acclaimed films such as Sense and Sensibility (1995), Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000, which won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film), Hulk (2003), and Brokeback Mountain (for which he won an Academy Award for Best Director), Ang Lee will visit Mumbai and Chennai along with David Lee (Co-Producer of Life Of Pi), main lead and debutante Suraj Sharma, Tabu and Irrfan Khan.

    Fox Star Studios CEO Vijay Singh said, “Ang is scheduled to arrive in India on 28 October 2012 for a two-city Mumbai-Chennai visit where he will also showcase exclusive visuals from the film for a select audience. This visit will also kick start the extravagant scale of activities planned, building on the excitement and anticipation that has been growing for ‘Life of Pi‘ since its trailer launch. Not only is it a stunning showcase of the immense acting talent and breathtaking locales of our country, it is also one of those rare works of cinema that transcends boundaries with its universal appeal.”

    ‘Life of Pi’ 3D release is scheduled on 23 November in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.

    The film showcases stunning scenes with Sharma, and veterans Tabu and Khan in the film along with breathtakingly vibrant colours of Pondicherry and Munnar where the film was extensively shot.

    From the Oscar winning director, Life of Pi 3D is the visually stunning tale of a boy who is adrift at sea in a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger after his family is drowned in a shipwreck. The Indian appeal of Ang Lee’s magnum opus is visible with every scene of the film right from the star cast to the locales and magical elements that combine to make this a special festive treat for fans!

    The theatrical promo also featured the Indian stars, and the trailer immediately went viral with laudatory reactions pouring in on various social networking sites.

    The film centers on Piscine Molitor Patel (Pi) who is raised in Pondicherry India with his family who run a zoo. They decide to immigrate to Canada, taking their animals along with them and set off on a huge freighter ship, steaming from India across the Pacific. But a terrible storm destroys the ship. The family and most of the animals perish. Pi survives, stranded on a lifeboat with several animals. Ultimately it is just Pi and a Bengal tiger who miraculously survive 227 days at sea.

    Lee has shot ‘Life of Pi’ in 3D, utilising groundbreaking techniques to capture the story’s epic scope. India had much to rejoice when Lee chose 17-year-old newcomer Suraj Sharma to essay the role of Pi. Sharma lives with his mathematician parents in Delhi. He has no previous acting experience and was cast following an extensive, months-long search. Over 3000 young men auditioned for the part.

    Not only is the film a global platform of Indian talent with its cast and crew, but some of India’s most scenic spots were tapped for the film, a first of its kind for a Hollywood film. Amidst racks of fabulous saris and colorful fabrics, many of which were used for the vibrant market scenes filmed in Pondicherry, India, where Pi spent his early years, there is a rich multicultural depth to the movie. One can see the countryside of Southern India in the hillside town of Munnar along with the French elegance of Pondicherry on 3D!

    The film is based on Yann Martel’s book, one of the biggest publishing events of the past decade. The book has sold over seven million copies worldwide and continues to sell over 1,000 copies per week and has won the prestigious Mann Booker Prize, and was a New York Times bestseller for over a year.

  • English Vinglish actor Hussain wins award at US fest

    English Vinglish actor Hussain wins award at US fest

    Mumbai: Adil Hussain, who has films like Ishqiya, Life of Pi and the recent English Vinglish (as Sri Devi‘s husband) in his kitty, has bagged the best actor award for his role in Unni Vijayan‘s Lessons in Forgetting at the recently held New Jersey Independent South Asian Cine Festival (NJISACF).

    The film, that is an adaptation of Anita Nair‘s book by the same name, is a gripping and heartwarming story of redemption, forgiveness and second chances. Meera‘s (Achreja) life is shaken up when her husband walks out on their marriage.

    Responsible not just for her children but her mother, grandmother and their rambling old family home in Bangalore, Meera takes up a part time job with Professor J A Krishnamurthy, or JAK, a renowned cyclone studies expert (Hussain).

    What she doesn‘t know is that JAK is seeking the truth behind the vicious attack on his 19-year-old daughter, Smriti (Maya Tideman). However, a wall of silence and fear surrounds the incident.

    Driven by the need to know the truth he explores the events that lead up to the incident. In the process he gains an insight into his daughter‘s world.

    Through a series of coincidences, Meera and JAK find their lives turning and twisting together and as the days pass, fresh beginnings appear where there seemed to be only endings.

    Roshni Achreja was feted as best supporting actress for the same film.

    The annual NJISACF is held to promote and recognise the talents of the new, the established, the underrepresented, the best and the brightest independent South Asian filmmakers from across the globe.

  • Life of Pi to open New York Fest; Nicole Kidman to be honoured

    Life of Pi to open New York Fest; Nicole Kidman to be honoured

    MUMBAI: Ang Lee‘s Life of Pi will be the opening film of the New York Film Festival. With this, it will be the first time ever that a 3D movie has been chosen to open the festival.
    Another notable thing that is going to happen at the festival would be that Oscar-winning star Nicole Kidman would be honoured by the festival authorities.

    Said festival director Richard Pena, “Nicole Kidman is one of the finest contemporary actresses. Since her breakthrough performance in To Die For and her bold and provocative appearances in Lars Von Trier‘s Dogville, Stanley Kubrick‘s Eyes Wide Shut, her award-winning portrayal of Virginia Wolf in Stephen Daldry‘s The Hours, the actress has been demanding complex, bold and demanding roles for herself. We are excited to honor her with a tribute at the New York Film Festival.”
    Being dubbed as one of film‘s finest contemporary actresses, the actress will be honoured with a gala tribute at the event on October 3.
    The New York Film Festival will get underway from 28 September, will close on 14 October.

  • Ang Lee’s Life of Pi will open New York film fest

    Ang Lee’s Life of Pi will open New York film fest

    MUMBAI: Ang Lee‘s big-screen adaptation of the bestselling Yann Martel novel Life of Pi 3D will open the New York film festival next month. The screening on 28 September, which raises the curtain on the festival‘s 50th edition, should help position Life of Pi for an awards season run.

    Martel‘s 2002 Man Booker prize-winning novel chronicles the travails of a shipwrecked teenage boy stuck on a life raft with only a female orangutan, an injured zebra, a hungry hyena and a brooding Bengal tiger for company. Suraj Sharma, a 17-year-old student from Delhi, takes the lead role in the film adaptation after beating more than 3,000 other challengers to the role last year.

    Lee, who opened the festival in 1997, with The Ice Storm, joins Robert Altman, Pedro Almodóvar and François Truffaut in the rank of filmmakers who opened the festival at least twice.

    “Life of Pi is a perfect combination of technological innovation and a strong artistic vision. Ang Lee has managed to make a deeply moving, engrossing work that will delight audiences as much as it will astonish them. We‘re enormously proud to have this film for our opening night for the 50th NYFF,” said Richard Pe?a of The Film Society of Lincoln Center, the festival‘s organising body.

    This year‘s New York film festival will run from 28 September to 14 October.